Eintracht Frankfurt vs TSG Hoffenheim
Two European hopefuls are set to square off at Deutsche Bank Park on Sunday in one of the games to look out for on the 24th matchday of the 2023-24 campaign.
Eintracht Frankfurt and Hoffenheim are sixth and seventh, respectively, in the Bundesliga table with 37 and 33 points, and both haven’t lost in their last two games.
After three consecutive draws, the hosts managed to secure a 2-1 win against Heidenheim last time out, while the visitors have won two in a row against Borussia Dortmund (3-2) and Werder Bremen (2-1) following a loss.
Because we’re down to the final 10 matchdays, every game counts for these two sides. Without further ado, continue reading below for the SBOTOP preview.
Talking Points
Eintracht Frankfurt’s youngsters growing up before our eyes
Perhaps the most overlooked aspect of Eintracht Frankfurt’s 2023-24 campaign is Dino Toppmoller’s reliance on his young stars, as five out of their six top scorers this season are aged 25 or under.
Last season, they relied heavily on Randal Kolo Muani to produce goals, but with him moving to PSG, Die Adler had to do it by committee, and it has worked thus far.
Omar Marmoush, 25, currently leads the team in scoring with 14 goals and five assists. Other than playing for Eintracht Frankfurt, he was also a key player for the Egyptian national team during the AFCON.
Right behind him are Ansgar Knauff and Junior Dina Ebimbe, who have seven and six goals, respectively. Knauff just turned 22 in January, while Edimbe is also 23 years old.
Fares Chaibi, 21, is the team’s top playmaker this season with three goals and nine assists, while Niels Nkounkou, 23, has three goals and two assists – incredible numbers for a left-back.
Last but not least, Eintracht Frankfurt have another young striker in Hugo Ekitike, whom they’ve loaned from PSG in February. The 21-year-old has yet to open his account for Die Adler, but he is capable of doing so when given the chance.
If things work out between Ekitike and Eintracht Frankfurt, the club can make the move permanent by triggering their €30 million buy option this summer.
Key losses for Hoffenheim
Head coach Pellegrino Matarazzo will be faced with some selection headaches, as he might miss up to eight players ahead of their clash against Eintracht Frankfurt.
Mergim Berisha (knee), Dennis Geiger (hamstring), John Brooks (knee), Grischa Promel (knee), Kevin Akpoguma (back), and Robert Skov (thigh) are all dealing with injuries, while Pavel Kaderabek and Marius Bulter are both suspended for this game due to an accumulation of yellow cards.
The absence of Promel is particularly big for Hoffenheim since he is their top playmaker with five assists so far this season. According to reports, the 29-year-old midfielder is out for an extended period because he sustained an “inner-ligament tear on his knee” against Union Berlin.
Hoffenheim can still score with the best of them, and that may be their only chance to beat Eintracht Frankfurt. Last month, Die Kraichgauer recorded eight goals in five league games.
History
Eintracht Frankfurt and Hoffenheim split their two league meetings last season.
Die Adler beat Die Kraichgauer 3-1 in the reverse fixture last October, as Omar Marmoush, Ansgar Knauff, and Ellyes Skhiri overturned a 1-0 deficit after Maximilian Beier scored within the first three minutes of the ballgame for Hoffenheim.
Dino Toppmoller’s side is undefeated in their last seven Bundesliga home games against Hoffenheim (W4, D3), their joint-longest unbeaten run. Overall, they have only lost one of their last 21 Bundesliga home games (W11, D9).
But if Hoffenheim win on Sunday, they will have as many wins (10) and points (36) as they had at the end of last season. At this point last term, Die Kraichgauer were at the bottom of the German top-flight standings with 19 points and were fighting for their German top-flight status.
Betting Tip
The Bundesliga 2024 odds expect a tight affair between these two sides. Eintracht Frankfurt have the slight edge at 2.08, while Hoffenheim are not far behind at 3.07, and a draw is at 3.38 in the 1X2 market.
Based on the trend of their recent encounters, this fixture should yield enough Bundesliga 2024 highlights for the fans to enjoy, hence making alternative bets like Over 3.00 at 2.04 and Total Goal 4-6 at 2.72 worth considering. Their last two meetings have ended with a scoreline of 3-1. So, if you fancy that Correct Score for the hosts, it is on offer at 15.00, while it is on offer at 27.00 for the visitors.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR (⭐) BETS ARE WORTH:
⭐⭐⭐= €20 (HIGHLY CONFIDENT)
⭐⭐= €10 (CONFIDENT))
⭐= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT)
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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