Bundesliga 26/27 · Round 6 ·
Borussia Monchengladbach vs TSG Hoffenheim preview: M´gladbach host Hoffenheim with both sides desperate for points
Two of the Bundesliga's bottom three meet at Borussia-Park with M´gladbach still on zero points after five matches. The market makes Hoffenheim the away favourite, but the home side's attacking output at this ground is the one clear positive either team brings.
By 10xSharp · Published
This preview was published before kickoff. The match has finished: see the result and full stats. Read the match report.
Who is missing
M´gladbach are without midfielder Franck Honorat, their joint-leading assister with 2 assists, through injury. Defenders Enzo Leopold and Jens Castrop are also out. Hoffenheim have two defensive absentees: Albian Hajdari and Kelven Frees, both injured. Neither side is missing a leading scorer, so the attacking threats remain intact.
Players to watch
Joe Scally and Hugo Bolin lead M´gladbach with 2 goals each, both from 5 matches. Hoffenheim's Adam Hlozek and Adam Daghim have also scored 2 apiece. Lukas Ullrich has 2 assists for the home side, while Bambase Conte and Vladimir Coufal have 2 each for Hoffenheim. The scoring burden is spread across both squads.
Recent form
M´gladbach have lost all five league matches and sit 18th in the form table. Hoffenheim have one win and four losses, placing them 17th. In their last six matches in all competitions, M´gladbach have one win, one draw and four losses, while Hoffenheim have one win and five losses. Both sides arrive on the back of defeats.
Table position
M´gladbach are 18th with 0 points from 5 matches. Hoffenheim are 17th with 3 points. At home, M´gladbach have lost both matches with a goal difference of -2. Away, Hoffenheim have lost both matches with a goal difference of -3. Neither side has won at the venue they will play at this weekend.
Head to head
Across 10 meetings, M´gladbach have won 7, Hoffenheim 2, with 1 draw. The goal difference is 32-19 in M´gladbach's favour. In the 5 meetings at this ground, M´gladbach have won 4 with 1 draw, scoring 18 goals to Hoffenheim's 7. The most recent meeting was a 4-1 M´gladbach win.
Attacking edge
M´gladbach score 3.0 goals per home match, clearly better than the league's home-side average of 2.36. Hoffenheim score 1.5 goals per away match, level with the league's away-side average of 1.47. M´gladbach hold a clear attacking edge at this venue, though the sample is only 2 home matches.
Defensive concerns
M´gladbach concede 4.0 goals per home match, far worse than the league's home-side average of 1.47. Hoffenheim concede 3.0 goals per away match, clearly worse than the league's away-side average of 2.36. Hoffenheim hold a large defensive edge, but both defences are leaking goals.
Shot volume
M´gladbach average 5.0 shots on target per match, Hoffenheim 4.6. Hoffenheim see more shots blocked, 5.0 per match to M´gladbach's 4.0. The home side works the goalkeeper slightly more often, while Hoffenheim's attempts are blocked more frequently.
When goals arrive
M´gladbach score most often in the 46-60, 0-15 and 31-45 windows, each with 29% of their goals. Hoffenheim's peak scoring window is 46-60 with 33%. M´gladbach concede 39% of their goals in 76-90, while Hoffenheim concede 31% in each of 76-90 and 61-75. Both teams are vulnerable late.
Goal environment
All of M´gladbach's matches this season have gone over 2.5 goals, and 60% have gone over 3.5. Hoffenheim's matches have all gone over 2.5 goals, with 80% over 3.5. Both teams' matches produce goals, and the market's total line of 3.5 reflects that. M´gladbach's home matches average 7.0 combined goals.
What to expect
This is a meeting of two poor defences and two attacks that have shown flashes. M´gladbach's home scoring is the clearest positive, but their home defending is the clearest negative. Hoffenheim's away record is similarly weak. The market makes Hoffenheim the favourite, but the goal environment points to an open match.