Dortmund Poised to Hand Hoffenheim Its First Bundesliga Defeat
Published December 16, 2016 by Florin P
Dortmund and Hoffenheim fight for a place on the podium in this Bundesliga Round’s first match (7:30 p.m UK Time).
Hoffenheim’s success story is even more impressive now when Leipzig lost its first match this season. The only undefeated team in the German first division is trying to expand its amazing run when Dortmund comes visiting. Their opponents are trying to get back in the race for the Bundesliga title and they need all three points on Friday to close the gap separating them from Bayern.
Hoffenheim Shows Signs of Weakness
The team managed to avoid defeat in 14 rounds, but they are recently struggling to pick up points. Four of the last five games ended undecided and their opponents usually score the first goal. The good news is that there are no injured or suspended players ahead of this fixture, so they can field a competitive starting formation. The last time they had home pitch advantage, they managed to defeat Koln by 4-0.
The last match against Frankfurt was particularly worrisome, as their opponents dominated the game for 90 minutes. Hoffenheim sent fewer shots, conceded more corners and raked more yellow cards after committing more faults. The signs of weakness are there and manager Nagelsmann has shifted into a more defensive gear.
Easy Schedule for Dortmund
Except for this fixture, the visitors have a relatively easy schedule in the remaining weeks of 2016. This is the most important match day play in December and they’ll throw everything they’ve got at Hoffenheim. Offensively, the team struggled in October, but recently rebounded and is a force to be reckoned with.
Bet365 sports offers great odds on a road win, with Dortmund being priced at 4/5. This is the result of Hoffenheim being the only invincible team in the Bundesliga. Their recent struggles make it unlikely for the team to extend this amazing run and Dortmund is the best equipped team to bring it to a screeching halt.
