Schalke wasted a 2-goal lead in the previous round and are not 3rd in the tables with 3 points behind Leverkusen. The clash vs. Hoffenheim will try to be their test which should use them to try and make up for everything lost in the past round as their visitors aren’t playing nearly as good as they did last season. During this transfer period, Magath decided to get rid off Halil Altintop’s services, who he handed over to Frankfurt. The main reason for that could be the fact Kuranyi is in terrific shape this season, being the first scorer of the team with 10 goals scored, out of which 4 were scored in the past 5 matches. Except for Altintop, Magath won’t be able to count on injured Pender, Westermann and Jones at this match.
Only a pale shadow
Hoffenheim is currently at the 9th spot with 25 points, but they aren’t even a pale shadow of a team that was a true Bundesliga hit last season. They lost their last 3 matches, conceding 8 goals and scoring only one. They are also winless in the last 7 matches, so their hopes of ensuring one of the European spots are now very low. Hoffenheim is without a few very important players at this moment, Jaissle, Demba Ba and Weis are all injured while Obasi and Vosah are still at the ACN. It should also be added that Simunic is suspended on top of all this, as he got the 5th yellow card in his last game, so he will have to sit out this time.
Easy home win
Although Schalke didn’t win in their past 3 mutual clashes, the situation is very different this time. The visitors are in big problems, many regulars won’t be able to play while the defense even almost doesn’t exist. Schalke will do everything in order to make up for the waste from the last round and that’s why we should expect nothing else but a convincing win of the hosts, who haven’t conceded in front of their fans for over 2 months now. The handicap option should be the right bet.
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Prediction:
Tip: 1 EH (-1)
Odd: 3.20
Bookie: Bwin
Stake: 7 /10
Tipster: Kather
