Fulham vs Hoffenheim predictions for this friendly pre-season that will be played on Saturday afternoon at Craven Cottage. Read on for all our free betting tips and predictions.
[wptb id=395335]
Match Live Saturday, 5th August at 1:00 pm In:
Fulham vs Hoffenheim Predictions
[wptb id=394010]
Fulham and Hoffenheim Brace for Preseason Finale at Craven Cottage
Key Stats
– Hoffenheim ended the last season three points clear of the relegation zone – their worst Bundesliga finish since the 2015-16 season.
– Despite suffering a 14-game winless run last season, Hoffenheim managed to finish the season safely under the guidance of their new manager, Pellegrino Matarazzo.
This Saturday at Craven Cottage, Fulham will play host to Hoffenheim in the final preseason friendly ahead of the forthcoming domestic leagues. Both teams are eager to fine-tune their squads, hoping to build momentum ahead of their respective seasons.
The Last Encounter and the Road Ahead
Marco Silva, the Fulham boss, suffered a bitter 2-0 loss to Chelsea in Maryland last Sunday, dampening the team’s spirits. On the other hand, Hoffenheim came away with a 2-2 draw against Rangers in their previous outing.
Fulham began their preseason in the United States with a thrilling 3-2 win over Brentford, boasting goals from Harry Wilson, Bobby Decordova-Reid, and Carlos Vinicius. Despite the promising start, Fulham faced back-to-back defeats against Chelsea and Aston Villa in the Premier League Summer Series.
[wptb id=388698]
Their performance highlighted a significant gap in their attacking prowess, evident from the single shot they mustered in both games. This particularly underscores the value of star striker Aleksandar Mitrovic, who has been absent from the preseason while he negotiates a possible transfer.
Despite these challenges, Fulham have had their share of successes. They made an admirable return to the Premier League in the 2021-22 season after being promoted from the Championship, ending the season nine points shy of a European spot. However, the potential departure of Mitrovic and rumours of Silva moving to Saudi Arabia may pose challenges for Fulham’s progression.
Hoffenheim’s Fight Back
Hoffenheim have experienced a mixed preseason performance as well. Their friendly games started with a 3-1 win over Astoria Walldorf but was followed by consecutive 2-1 defeats against Elversberg and Strasbourg. They managed to turn their fortunes around with a 4-2 victory over reigning Dutch champions Feyenoord before their draw with Rangers.
Hoffenheim had a challenging season last term, ending only three points clear of the relegation zone – their worst Bundesliga finish since the 2015-16 season. They endured a 14-game winless streak in the league from October to March, including 12 losses. Despite the difficult season, Hoffenheim managed to stay in the Bundesliga, and under their new manager, Pellegrino Matarazzo, who took over from Andre Breitenreiter in February, they are hoping to bounce back in the 2023-24 season.
In the upcoming friendly, Fulham are likely to be without Joao Palhinha (shoulder) and Tim Ream (arm), both of whom are injured. However, they will welcome Andreas Pereira and Tom Cairney, who have recently returned from injury. In Mitrovic’s absence, Carlos Vinicius or new signing Raul Jimenez might lead the attack for Fulham.
Battle Formations and Predictions
Hoffenheim, on the other hand, will be missing the services of their young duo, Umut Tohumcu (ankle) and Fisnik Asllani (ligament). Matarazzo will be looking to integrate his new signings into the squad, with Attila Szalai, Marius Bulter, Julian Justvan, and Florian Grillitsch all expected to play.
Looking at the recent performances of both sides, we can anticipate a close match with competitive spirit and intense energy on the pitch. In light of this, I propose three predictions for this match:
1. Both Teams To Score (BTTS): Given the attacking potential shown by both sides and considering that they have been successful in finding the back of the net in their preseason games, it is likely that both teams will score in this match.
2. Correct Score: Fulham 1 – 1 Hoffenheim. This scoreline reflects both teams’ struggles and successes in their preseason fixtures.
3. Goalscorer Prediction: Carlos Vinicius, Fulham’s striker, has shown his goal-scoring abilities in the preseason and is expected to carry that form into this match.
[wptb id=394010]
Top UK Bookies & Best Sign Up Offers
[wptb id=389092]
Subscribe To Our Newsletter For Exclusive Tips
Want to have exclusive tips from experts tipsters delivered right into your inbox? Subscribe Now To Our Newsletter. We will never spam, we fully respect your privacy!
