Hoffenheim – Leverkusen

There will be at least three goals in the match between direct rivals.

For the eighteenth season in a row, Hoffenheim have been playing in Germany's top division. The team from a small town burst into the Bundesliga in 2008, spending only one season in the Second Bundesliga after promotion from the 3. Liga. Since then the club has managed to leave a significant mark on German football. The promotion to the top flight was achieved under the guidance of the famous Ralph Rangnick, and for four seasons Hoffenheim were coached by none other than Julian Nagelsmann. After the departure of this specialist, the 'villagers' were long regarded as a mid-table side, but this season they are showing themselves in a much better light. For the match against the reigning German vice-champion, Hoffenheim will enter as the fifth-placed team in the standings, sitting adjacent to the opponent. After the managerial merry-go-round at the start of the season, Bayer has been led for four months by Kasper Yulmann. Time is proving the truth of Erik ten Hag's words, who was sacked after two Bundesliga rounds that you can't build a team from scratch in a couple of months. Despite Bayer often delivering very good results, such as an away win over Manchester City, over the distance the hastily assembled squad cannot sustain a high tempo. Bookmakers have named the home side as the favourites for the upcoming match, offering odds of 2.40 on their victory. Hoffenheim has in recent months become a truly formidable force when playing at home. The villagers have won the last five home matches, and each of their opponents has conceded three to five goals. The previous match of that run took place this week on Wednesday, when Borussia Mönchengladbach were crushed 5-1 in Sinsheim. By the way, Hoffenheim beat Bayer this season as well. However that match took place in Leverkusen on the first matchday of the new season. Bayer returned after the winter break in a catastrophic fashion. At home the team suffered a crushing defeat to Stuttgart, Bayer's direct rival in the race for a Champions League berth. In Sinsheim the visitors will travel to rectify the league standings and take revenge for the defeat in the first round. There should be plenty of goals in such a match.