1
bet365 Square Logo

Darmstadt vs Hoffenheim Predictions, Betting Tips, & Match Preview

  • 18:00
  • Expired
  • Jonathan-Heimes-Stadion
Darmstadt
Hoffenheim

Darmstadt vs Hoffenheim Predictions

Darmstadt 98’s overall performance and eventual survival in the Bundesliga last season came as a huge surprise to many who thought that, for a relatively small side, back-to-back promotions with very little investment, would almost certainly see their demise. Darmstadt’s performances so far this season without “superstar” Sandro Wagner, who scored 14 goals over 32 appearances for Darmstadt last season and signed for visitors TSG Hoffenheim during the transfer window, however, have been unsurprisingly bleak. Wagner was, by %, not only Darmstadt’s most involved player, when combining assists and goals scored, but one of the most vital players for any team in the Bundesliga last season. Darmstadt have no player that comes close to replacing his role in the team and were very lucky to take away their only points of the season through a 1-0 win at home to Frankfurt in gameweek 2. Losing 6-0 away to Borussia Dortmund last weekend, their worst ever Bundesliga defeat, will do little to add to their dwindling confidence.

Hoffenheim’s “great escape” from relegation last season can only be accredited to one man, coach Julian Nagelsmann. Nagelsmann is the youngest ever Bundesliga coach and was only 28 years old when he took the first-team reins in February 2016. He pushed Hoffenheim to safety with an attacking, entertaining brand of football, which has continued over their opening three fixtures so far. Nagelsmann has already stated that relegation is not a thought heading into the new season as even considering it would “not be setting a target”. Hoffenheim’s unbeaten start to their 2016/2017 campaign, qualifying through to the second round of the DFB Pokal with ease and taking three points from their opening three fixtures (a 2-2 draw at home to RB Leipzig followed by a 4-4 draw away to Mainz 05 and a 0-0 draw at home to Wolfsburg last time out), does show signs of a better future for the side.

Though Hoffenheim haven’t won or even scored against Darmstadt competitively in 10 years – there have only been three meetings since 2006 when both sides were playing in the German fourth tier – circumstances are much different this time around. Hoffenheim are the bookies’ favourites at 11/10 and we find this price to be about right all things considered. While both teams have amassed three points over the opening three fixtures, their shots on targets certainly tell a different tale about their work ethic: Hoffenheim have registered 51 shots on goal compared to Darmstadt’s 25 (over twice as many). Hoffenheim’s stronger attacking football has seen them scored six goals, an average of two goals per game, in the same time that Darmstadt have scored just one, a goal which was also very much against the run of play. Simply put, Darmstadt are the much weaker side, both on form and on paper, and they’ve just not shown enough for us to believe this can end in anything other than an away win.

While Darmstadt fans will likely give striker Sandro Wagner a warm welcome back to the Jonathan-Heimes-Stadion, whether or not they’ll show the same emotions after 90 minutes is up for debate. As such, TSG Hoffenheim to win at 11/10 and Hoffenheim to win 2-0 at 10/1 with bet365 are our choice bets for this match.

Featured Matches

See All

Today's Tips

See All