Hoffenheim vs. Koln Betting Preview With Pick – Bundesliga, May 27, 2020

This is a potentially important game between two clubs with an outside chance of qualifying for Europe this season. Neither side is favorite to take the final Europa League spot, but a win would put them in contention.

Results have been mixed for both Hoffenheim and Koln since the restart, so this is an excellent opportunity to really get things going again.

BetOnline has Hoffenheim as slight favorite to take the points here, but Koln’s much improved form since the start of the year is reflected in the pricing. With the home side being fairly inconsistent all through this campaign, the odds for a draw at the Rhein Neckar Arena look good.

Hoffenheim was probably unlucky to be on the wrong end of a 3-0 defeat to Hertha in its first game back. The Berlin side definitely deserved the points thanks to its second half performance, but the first period was fairly evenly balanced.  So when Robert Skov put Hoffenheim one up inside five minutes against Paderborn at the weekend it looked like it was going to be a good day.

But the bottom-placed club fought back almost immediately and ended up playing out an entertaining 1-1 draw. Those results mean that Hoffenheim has been unable to improve on its mid table position, even if it is only three points off a European qualification place. But that gap will only grow the longer this team fails to win.

Whether it can manage that this Wednesday is not an easy question to answer. Koln’s turnaround since just before Christmas has been incredible. From relegation certainties to hopes of a top six finish, manager Markus Gisdol has discovered how to get his players to perform.

The two games played since the Bundesliga resumed have been frustrating and promising in equal measure. Koln blew a two-goal lead at home to a limited Mainz side, before scoring two in the final two minutes to snatch a draw with a much better looking Fortuna Dusseldorf eleven.

If Koln can continue in the vein of that comeback on Sunday, then there is a very good chance that it can finish in the top half at the very least. Hoffenheim has blown hot and cold all season, so there is a definite chance of winning three valuable points on the road here.

The odds for this game are very tight so there is no overwhelmingly easy choice to make. But Koln looks to me as a team that is more ready to put in the work to finish the season in the best way it possibly can, whether that means European qualification or not. Israel striker Munas Dabbur should start for Hoffenheim this weekend after missing action due to the birth of his son, but I’m not sure he can make enough difference here.

For more betting opportunities, head to our predictions and betting picks section.