Bundesliga: Borussia Dortmund Seeking Revenge Against Hoffenheim

Borussia Dortmund vs TSG Hoffenheim

This was the Bundesliga fixture which, in this SBOBET observer’s view, was the contest which cost Dortmund the Bundesliga title last term.

That was the day on which when they looked back and assessed their 2018/19 campaign, and they would have reflected on more than any other when their failure to hold onto a commanding lead came back to haunt them in dramatic fashion.

If that February encounter provided one of the most exciting Bundesliga highlights of that term, then this offers the chance for Dortmund to gain some revenge and complete their 2019/20 domestic season on a high and in second spot again.

Talking Points

Even before Dortmund went down to a surprise defeat to lowly Mainz last week, the title had gone the way of arch-rivals Bayern Munich.

Yet being second to the Bavarian giants – a side with quality in all areas of the park and a much bigger budget than their rivals as they marched to an eighth successive title – provides no cause for embarrassment.

That Dortmund were again able to keep the race alive until the closing weeks of the campaign is a testament to the progress they are making.

Also impressive was the fact that days after being beaten by Mainz, they travelled to nearest challengers RB Leipzig last weekend and saw Erling Haaland bag a brace to ensure they would finish the season as runners-up once more.

Borussia Dortmund conceded only 3 goals at home since the restart of Bundesliga — Lucien Favre’s Borussia Dortmund will finish the season at 2nd place

In addition, the club possesses four players who have been named in the initial shortlist for the Golden Boy – celebrating the best footballer under the age of 21 in Europe’s top-flight leagues.

Jadon Sancho needs little introduction and has been in the news both on and off the pitch in recent weeks.

Likewise, Haaland is probably the most sought-after young player in Europe right now with 13 goals in 14 games or one every 75 minutes since his January arrival at the club.

But there is also his fellow teenager Gio Reyna who is still 17, who has made significant progress already after making his first-team debut in the new year.

And a name to watch out for next season could be Sergio Gomez who on loan has made 30 appearances for Huesca in the Spanish second tier and is helping their bid for a return to La Liga. He will surely return to the Bundesliga better for the experience.

I suppose the key question for Dortmund – as has always been the case in Bayern’s slipstream in recent years – is can they keep hold of their better players or risk seeing them go.

The Saturday’s opponents in Hoffenheim will arrive in town in buoyant mood after sealing a place in Europe next season themselves.

A 4-0 win over Union Berlin last time out means they will at the very least be in the qualifying rounds of the Europa League.

So there you have it, the final day of the 2019/20 season and what should be a relaxed affair.

That’s not to say you shouldn’t study the Bundesliga betting odds closely before deciding who will emerge victorious in what has been proved to be an engrossing encounter in recent times.

History

Dortmund and Hoffenheim drew both of their matches last season and as mentioned, their second meeting in Dortmund proved particularly crucial.

Dortmund were 3-0 up and seemingly set for another victory before Hoffenheim stormed back with three goals in the last 15 minutes to snatch a point.

That recent hoodoo continued in December when substitute Sargis Adamyan and Andrej Kramaric scored late goals to seal a 2-1 win, this after Mario Gotze had given Dortmund the lead.

However, Dortmund still hold quite a significant edge over Hoffenheim.

Before the two draws last term and the most recent clash six months ago, Dortmund had won six of the last 11 meetings between the two, with four draws and just one Hoffenheim win.

Overall, Dortmund have won 10 of their clashes with nine meetings ending all square and Hoffenheim tasting victory six times.

It was in 2013 – the season Dortmund last reached the Champions League Final – that Hoffenheim last won at the Signal Iduna Park in their final league game of the 2012/13 season.

Then after Robert Lewandowski had given the hosts an early lead, two goals in the last 14 minutes from Sejad Salihovic sealed a fine 2-1 win – with the second goal coming from the penalty spot after Dortmund goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller had been sent-off.