Bundesliga: Gladbach Gear up for Hoffenheim Test

Borussia Monchengladbach vs TSG Hoffenheim

Borussia Monchengladbach are still very much in the Bundesliga title race. Die Fohlen currently sit fourth in the table after last weekend, where the three other teams above them also won in convincing fashion. Although, they are tied at 42 points with Borussia Dortmund and still have a game in hand.

Gladbach will be eager to keep pace with the other title contenders as they host a Hoffenheim side which will not be in the best of form heading into this match.

The Bundesliga 2020 odds have the home side as significant favourites, although Hoffenheim have been no pushovers away from home this season and will give Gladbach all they can handle.

Talking Points

Gladbach get back star man Plea

Borussia Monchengladbach appear to be other their worst slump of the season to date. After winning just one in five matches (three losses, one draw) from the end of 2019 to the start of 2020, they have gone unbeaten in their last three, with wins over Mainz (3-1) and away to Fortuna Dusseldorf (1-4).

And in the one game they didn’t win — their 2-2 draw at Leipzig — they went two goals up away from home against the then-leaders. Unfortunately, they failed to hold on when Alassane Plea was sent off after a rather harsh sending off.

Bundesliga: Alassane Plea will return in Borussia Monchengladbach squad after serving one match-ban — Alassane Plea celebrates scoring their first goal vs RB Leipzig

Plea will be back for Gladbach after serving out his one-match ban against Dusseldorf, which should be a huge boost to their attack. Plea is having a fine season for Die Fohlen, scoring a team-leading eight goals with five assists. After going off the boil in December, he’s bounced back with three goals in his last two appearances.

However, Marco Rose’s men hardly missed Plea against Dusseldorf, in large part due to the excellent play of fellow Frenchman Marcus Thuram. The son of legendary defender Lilian Thuram, Marcus has already produced a number of Bundesliga 2020 highlights in his debut campaign at Gladbach. He has six goals with seven assists, with two assists coming in the win at Dusseldorf.

Gladbach will certainly be glad to have Plea back at home, where they have been outstanding this season. Die Fohlen have an impressive record of eight wins, one draw, and one defeat in 10 home matches this season. They’ve won eight in a row since failing to win their first two home games of the season against Schalke and Leipzig.

Hoffenheim having some hiccups

Hoffenheim will head into their match against Gladbach on the back of their first three-match losing streak of the season. After losing to Bayern in the DFB-Pokal, they subsequently lost 1-0 away at Freiburg and lost 2-3 at home to Wolfsburg.

Their loss to Freiburg was especially surprising given how impressive they’ve been away from home this season. Prior to that defeat, they had lost just two of their nine away matches, including five wins in their last six. That run began with a shock 1-2 win over Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena.

Hoffenheim’s defence overall has been middle of the road; they’ve conceded 35 goals in 22 matches. But for some reason, they have been much more impressive away from home, where they have conceded just 10 goals, which is the fewest in the league.

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They have been nowhere near the same offensive force they were under Julian Nagelsmann, but luckily, Andrej Kramaric is starting to regain his top form. The Croatian, who is the team’s top scorer with seven goals, has three goals and two assists in his last five Bundesliga matches.

History

Hoffenheim have had a slight edge over Gladbach in their historical head-to-heads. Since 2007, they’ve played 27 times, with Hoffenheim winning 10 times and Gladbach coming out on top in seven, with 10 draws.

Although, Gladbach have had the upper hand over Hoffenheim in the last few years. Die Fohlen have lost to Hoffenheim just once in their last 12 meetings and have picked up five wins with six draws.

Gladbach came out on top in their most recent meeting at Hoffenheim. Plea and Thuram both scored to lead Gladbach to a comfortable 3-0 win.

Gladbach are unbeaten in their last seven home league games against Hoffenheim, although they have drawn each of the last three. Those matches have been high scoring affairs, with four or more goals in five of the last six at Borussia-Park.

Betting Tip

	Borussia Monchengladbach vs TSG Hoffenheim	Under 3.25 Goals @ 1.83
	February 22, 22:30 (GMT+8)

Gladbach have been outstanding at home, which is why it’s no surprise that SBOBET odds have them priced as significant 1.68 favourites to get all three points. Hoffenheim are only 4.30 to get a big upset, with the draw at 4.20.

But while I’m reasonably confident in Gladbach’s chances of winning this match, there is more value in the over under market, particularly the under.

There have been a lot of goals in these two sides’ recent meetings at Borussia-Park, but this season is a little different. Gladbach have one of the best defences in the entire league, while Hoffenheim have also been hard to break down away from home.

I foresee a low-scoring affair between these two this time around, so take the total goals to go under 3.25. This means that even if the total reaches three goals, you still win half your bet and if it stays at two and below, you win it entirely.