Match Day 3
Bayer Leverkusen vs. Hoffenheim
Saturday, August 31st 2019
22:30pm (GMT+8 Timing)
Stadium: BayArena
Bayer Leverkusen:
Last five matches form: W D W W W
Average goals per match (18/19): 2.03
Average goals against per match (18/19): 1.53
Top Scorer (18/19): Kai Havertz (17)
Hoffenheim:
Last five matches form: D L L L W
Average goals per match (18/19): 2.06
Average goals against per match (18/19): 1.53
Top Scorer (18/19): Andrej Kramarić (17)
Potentially one of the most entertaining encounters on Match Day 3 in Bundesliga comes at the BayArena as Bayer Leverkusen play host to Hoffenheim. With both of these sides averaging over two goals per game last season, there could be a few goals flying around in this one.
Hoffenheim certainly enjoyed themselves in this matchup last season, beating Leverkusen 4-1 both at home and in this game.
Joel Pohjanpalo is out for the home side. Just the one injury for Hoffenheim too, but it's a big one, as last season's top scorer Andrej Kramarić remains on the side-lines.
Leverkusen ended last season amongst the goals and have carried on in a similar vein this term, beating Paderborn 3-2 here in their opener, and winning 3-1 away at Fortuna Düsseldorf last week.
Hoffenheim lost a close one away at Eintracht Frankfurt on the opening day, but bounced back with a 3-2 success at home to Werder Bremen on Match Day 2.
Leverkusen will likely believe there is room for improvement in their home form having won nine of 17 last season.
Hoffenheim were steady on their travels last term, winning six, drawing seven and losing five.
This isn't the easiest game to call - particularly considering the extent to which Hoffenheim dominated Leverkusen last season. That loss of Kramarić is a big blow though and may prove to be the decisive factor.
Prediction: Bayer Leverkusen 4 - 2 Hoffenheim