Fortuna Dusseldorf vs TSG Hoffenheim Predictions

• Fortuna have lost just two of their last ten league matches, drawing four of their last six
• Hoffenheim have drawn three of their last four away games 1-1
• Both teams have scored in four of the past five meetings between the sides

Fortuna Dusseldorf stubborn on home turf

Fortuna Dusseldorf were thumped 5-0 at champions-elect Bayern on their last Bundesliga outing but had lost just one of their nine games under Uwe Rosler prior to that and can return to form against Hoffenheim.

Fortuna have shared the spoils in six of Rosler’s ten games in charge, which includes three of their last five at home, and his appointment has improved them markedly, particularly in the forward areas.

The hosts are just two points clear of the relegation zone but have avoided defeat in seven of their last 11 at home – three losses came against Bayern, Leipzig and Borussia Monchengladbach – and a reproduction of their 2-1 win over Schalke would see them seriously competitive.

Hoffenheim could fail in their hat-trick bid

Hoffenheim arrive in Dusseldorf on the back of consecutive league wins over Mainz and Cologne but they were flattered by those successes and are predicted to slip-up in their hat-trick bid.

Hoffenheim triumphed 1-0 at struggling Mainz despite both sides registering ten shots on goal and they were second-best for large spells in their 3-1 win at home to Cologne, who won the shot count 12-8 and enjoyed 57 per cent possession despite playing for over 20 minutes with a man less.

Prior to that, Hoffenheim were held to a 1-1 draw at rock-bottom Paderborn a week after being picked off 3-0 at home by Hertha Berlin.

Victory in Mainz was a first away win in five attempts for Alfred Schreuder’s men, who are finding goals hard to come by following the injuries to key attackers Andrej Kramaric and Sargis Adamyan. That pair have scored 12 of Hoffenheim’s 40 league goals.

Austrian youngster Christoph Baumgartner has tried to step up the plate in their absence but they are lacking depth in attacking areas.

Low-scoring draw appeals

These sides have met just five times and three of those have resulted in 1-1 draws, including in this season’s reverse fixture at the Rhein-Neckar Arena in November.

It is also interesting that Hoffenheim, who have netted more than once in just one of their last seven league contests, have drawn three of their last four away games, each finishing 1-1. Five of Fortuna’s nine draws this season have also ended 1-1, so that appeals for a correct score prediction.