German Bundesliga
2010-05-08 - TSG Hoffenheim vs Vfb Stuttgart
A Sports Betting Pick by Niko
Rhein Neckar Arena
Saturday, 08th May 2010 – kickoff 15:30
TSG Hoffenheim
TSG Hoffenheim showed a good performance and won last week 2-1 away at Eintracht Frankfurt. They are placed at the mid-table and they will finish the season at the eleventh spot no matter the outcome of this match. They currently have 41 points, which was expected to be achieved prior the start of the season.
After the poor start of the second part of the season, the team has been on good run recently with two wins in the last three matches, and notable win is the 5-1 hammering of Hamburger SV. The striker Vedad Ibisevic has been also in good form scoring three goals in the last three matches.
The first choice goalkeeper Timo Hildebrand is still out through hamstring injury and Haas is his replacement between the posts. Demba Ba and Andreas Ibertsberger are definitely out as they have been recovering from injuries. Chinedu Obasi has been questionable last week due to a minor muscle injury but is expected to start the match.
Probable TSG Hoffenheim line-up :
Beck, Simunic , Compper, Eichner ,
Weis, Luiz Gustavo, Carlos Eduardo,
Salihovic,
Obasi, Ibisevic
Vfb Stuttgart
Vfb Stuttgart have only managed a 2-2 draw last week against Mainz which was a small setback in the race for the European spots, but they can lose their sixth place only theoretically.
They are in very good form as they are undefeated for seven straight matches, and they have lost only twice in the second part of the season.
Coach Christian Gross will have to do without the services of Timo Gebhart who is suspended due yellow cards while Stefano Celozzi, Sebastian Rudy and Sven Ulrich are long time absent and not able to participate. Aliaksandr Hleb will be at the left wing, while in the attack Cacau will be partnered with Ciprian Marica and Pavel Pogrebnyak will be at the bench.
This is the last official football match for the 40-year old goalkeeper Jens Lehmann who will retire, so this should be an emotional afternoon for him and his team.
Probable Vfb Stuttgart line-up :
Osorio, Tasci , Delpierre , Molinaro ,
Träsch , Khedira , Hilbert , Hleb ,
Cacau, Marica
The Betting Verdict
These teams have played total of four matches and Vfb Stuttgart have won twice and two matches were drawn. The first match between these teams this season ended in 3-1 victory for Vfb Stuttgart.
TSG Hoffenheim will play without pressure and Vfb Stuttgart will want to send Jens Lehmann into retirement with a win. I expect one last strong performance by Vfb Stuttgart this season and another win that will crown their successful end of the season after the poor start.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
TSG Hoffenheim-Vfb Stuttgart 0-2
