Hoffenheim and Tottenham Hotspur will aim to get their UEFA Europa League campaign back on track when they meet in a matchday seven clash on Thursday. Both teams have shown some defensive vulnerability lately and could serve up a thriller here.
The Germans will head into Thursday’s match off the back of a 3-1 victory at Holstein Kiel in a Bundesliga fixture last weekend. However, that was only the second win in the last 10 matches across all competitions for Christian Ilzer’s team, who have found things difficult lately.
Hoffenheim have also struggled in the Europa League, winning just once in six matches. They still have a chance to make the playoffs, sitting one point behind the top 24. One of the problems is a defensive vulnerability as they are without a clean sheet in four of their last five home matches while three fixtures in that run have produced more second half goals.
Tottenham Hotspur are not doing much better than Hoffenheim lately having failed to win their last three matches in the Europa League. They played out a 1-1 draw at Rangers in their previous fixture and sit just outside the top eight.
The Premier League side were beaten 3-2 at Everton last weekend to make it six winless matches in the last eight in all competitions. Like the hosts, Ange Postecoglou’s men often get active after the break and have scored second half goals in two of the last three Europa League matches.
How the bookies view it: Upper hand for Spurs
The bookies have installed Spurs as favourites with a win priced at 21/20 by BoyleSports. A victory for Hoffenheim is valued at 17/10 with the same bookmaker who are also offering odds of 13/5 for a draw.
Head to head: No previous meetings
Thursday’s clash will be the first meeting between Hoffenheim and Tottenham Hotspur.
Players to watch: Eyes on Kulusevski
Dejan Kulusevski has impressed for Tottenham Hotspur lately, scoring in two of the last three matches in all competitions. The forward also got the equalizer at Rangers last time out in the Europa League and is priced at 5/2 by BoyleSports to find the net on Thursday.
Hoffenheim also have quality going forward and will look to Andrej Kramaric to provide the decisive touch going forward. The forward has two goals in the last four matches and is priced at 7/4 by BoyleSports to get on the score sheet.
Probable line-ups
Hoffenheim have injury problems with Ihlas Bebou, Ozan Kabak, Grischa Promel and Marius Butler all sidelined. The Germans are likely to stick with much of the team that won at the weekend, with Kramaric expected to start in attack while Kevin Akpoguma is set to continue at the back.
Tottenham Hotspur have injuries of their own, especially at the back with Cristian Romero, Mickey van de Ven, Destiny Udogie and goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario all sidelined. They are also without striker Dominic Solanke but Richarlison made a scoring return at the weekend and should start in attack.
Hoffenheim: Baumann, Gendrey, Chaves, Akpoguma, Prass, Stach, Bischof, Hlozek, Kramaric, Moerstedt. Yardimci
Tottenham Hotspur: Kinsky, Porro, Gray, Dragusin, Reguillon, Sarr, Bergvall, Son, Maddison, Kulusevski, Richarlison
Anything else catch the eye?
There have been over 3.5 goals in Hoffenheim’s last two matches and a repeat is priced at 11/10 by BoyleSports. Both teams have a knack for finding the net after the break and can be backed to score in the second half at 13/10 with BoyleSports.
With both teams likely to score after the break, the second half can be tipped to produce the most goals at 20/23 with BoyleSports.
This UEFA Europa League match between Hoffenheim and Tottenham Hotspur will be played on Jan 23, 2025 and kick off at 17:45. Check below for our tipsters best Hoffenheim vs Tottenham Hotspur prediction. You may also visit our dedicated betting previews section for the most up to date previews.
