Hoffenheim have made a disappointing start to the season and desperately need a morale-boosting when Dynamo Kiev come calling in the UEFA Europa League.
Boss Pellegrino Matarazzo led Hoffenheim to a seventh-place finish in the Bundesliga last term but they're now sitting third bottom after collecting just three points from their first five games.
The Germans also need a late Max Moerstedt goal to avoid defeat in their Euro opener away to Midtjylland, frustrating our man Gabriel after he had tipped the Danes to win.
But they will fancy their chances back at home against a Dynamo Kiev who were outclassed by Lazio in their Europa League opener, a game that was held in Hamburg.
I backed the Serie A side to win that match and the bet was safe by half-time after they had romped into a 3-0 lead. Dynamo avoided further punishment after the break but now need to rouse themselves for another clash in Germany.
Hoffenheim aren't in the same class as Lazio so the Ukrainian side will be looking to get a much more positive result this time around.
How the bookies view it: Hoffenheim odds-on favourites
Despite their terrible domestic form, Hoffenheim are Betano's 9/10 favourites with home advantage here. Dynamo Kiev are 9/4 outsiders while the draw pays 5/2.
Head to head: First-time foes
With Hoffenheim rarely participating in Europe, it's no great surprise that these sides have never faced off before. Dynamo Kiev have played German sides 30 times though and their record is decent, with 12 wins, 13 defeats and five draws.
Players to watch: Hlozek ready to deliver on potential
Czech winger Adam Hlozek was one of Hoffenheim's summer signings after failing to make a big impact at Leverkusen. The former Sparta Prague wonderkid opened his account at the weekend in the loss to Werder Bremen and is 13/8 at Betano for anytime scorer.
Vladyslav Vanat should lead the line for Dynamo Kiev again and the 22-year-old looks capable of playing in one of Europe's top leagues. He will be out to catch the eye and is 19/10 at Betano for a goal.
Probable line-ups
Croatian forward Andrej Kramaric has missed their last two games due to illness while David Jurasek is also a doubt due to illness. Mergim Berisha went off in the first half at the weekend and looks set to join Ozan Kabak, Finn Becker, Ihlas Bebou and Grischa Promel on the sidelines.
Maksym Braharu is suspended for Dynamo Kiev after taking just eight minutes as a sub to pick up a red card against Lazio. Volodymyr Shepelev and Matviy Ponomarenko are also injury doubts.
Hoffenheim: Baumann, Grillitsch, Akpoguma, Nsoki, Bischof, Gendrey, Tohumcu, Bulter, Hlozek, Tabakovic, Bruun Larsen.
Dynamo Kiev: Bushchan, Tymchyk, Ceballos, Mykhavko, Dubinchak, Brazhko, Yarmolenko, Shaparenko, Pikhalyonok, Vanat, Kabaev.
Anything else catch the eye?
This has the potential to be a tight game with Hoffenheim in poor form but having home advantage. Backing the half-time draw pays 6/5 with Betfred while backing most goals to come after the break is priced at 11/10.
I went for cards in Dynamo's clash with Lazio and we saw two red cards for substitutes in a stormy second half. Over 4.5 cards pays evens here at Unibet who also price Dynamo midfielder Volodymyr Brazhko at a tempting 18/5 to go into the book for a third time this term.
We should see goals after Hoffenheim lost 4-3 to Werder Bremen at the weekend and combining BTTS with over 2.5 strikes pays 17/20 with Betano.
This UEFA Europa League match between Hoffenheim and Dynamo Kiev will be played on Oct 3, 2024 and kick off at 17:45. Check below for our tipsters best Hoffenheim vs Dynamo Kiev prediction. You may also visit our dedicated betting previews section for the most up to date previews.
