Hoffenheim v Shakhtar Donetsk
Champions League. Tuesday November 27. Kick-off 8pm. Live on BT Sport Extra 4.
HOFFENHEIM made history in their last Euro outing and can keep their knockout stage dream alive in a clash that looks full of goals.
The Germans' fightback from 2-0 down for a draw away to Lyon despite the dismissal of Kasim Adams was the first time in the Champions League a team have recovered from a two-goal deficit with 10 men.
That took guts and no little skill and they have both in spades despite still being winless in a group that looks a shootout to qualify behind Man City.
It took a late David Silva goal for Pep Guardiola's men to sink Hoffenheim 2-1 in the opener and the Germans nabbed last-gasp goals of their own in the 3-3 and 2-2 draws with Lyon.
So they sit on three points after three games, a point above Shakhtar who head into this tussle on the back of 3-0 and 6-0 shellackings from Man City.
Their hammering at the Etihad continued a poor away trend for Shakhtar who have long been dodgy on the road at the top level – they've won just two of their last 14 CL away days, losing nine and shipping plenty of goals along the way.
Whatever way you slice it the stats scream goals tonight. The Ukrainians have conceded at least twice in every group game this season, Hoffenheim have had btts and over 2.5 in all their matches so this shouldn't be a no-score bore.
In all competitions the Germans have played eight at home, keeping just one clean sheet and in Europe their last six matches have all gone over 2.5 with Hoffenheim shipping 2+ each time.
Nine of 10 for Shakhtar in the CL have gone over 2.5 and with both teams still firmly in the fight to finish second it's all systems go. Both to score is short at 21-50 (888Sport), likewise over 2.5 (21-50, 888Sport) so value must be sought elsewhere.
I'm backing Hoffenheim to prevail and they're a tasty 7-4 at 888Sport for victory and most corners. Their meeting in Kharkiv had 14 corners – nine of them to the Germans – so over 9.5 corners and three goals or more also attracts at 9-10 as does a home goal in each half at 57-50.
Recommended Bets
- Hoffenheim win & most corners (7-4, 888Sport)
- Over 2.5 goals and over 9.5 corners (9-10, 888Sport)
- Hoffenheim to score in both halves (57-50, 888sport)
