Football Results

This is an interesting match in the fight for European positions, and Schalke is doing better at the moment, because they are holding a place for Europa League, while Hoffenheim has three points less and they want to get their hand on the position that their host occupies. It can be said that both teams are still playing weaker in the second half of the season, which is confirmed by only one victory in the championship, while Schalke has celebrated once in the Cup. They have three defeats, one more than Hoffenheim, which in the first part of the season defeated Schalke on their field with 2-0

Schalke

Schalke has occupying the second place in the winter break, and now they are at sixth and it is clear that they are not playing great in the second half. They had bad start but they also had to play against Bayern away in the last round, to which they have provided good resistance, but they were defeated with 2-1, and they remained at only four points won in the five rounds of the championship. The victory over Wolfsburg in the Cup has improved their mood a little bit, so they will play the semi-finals of that competition.

Until then, they have to improve in the championship and this is a good opportunity because they are on their field, although the rival is unpredictable and unpleasant. Coach Tedesco could not count on the suspended Nastasic in Munich, so Stambouli jumped instead, while three strikers were surprises in midfield, including Embolo. Now Nastasic resturns, as well as Oczipka, and Harit, which means return to the old formation.

Probable lineups Schalke 04: Fahrmann – Kehrer, Naldo, Nastasic – Schopf, Goretzka – D.Caligiuri, Oczipka – Harit – di Santo, G.Burgstaller

Hoffenheim

Hoffenheim has started the second part of the season with two draws and two defeats, and they also slipped on the championship table, and then in the last round they finally won and thus returned to the fight for the European position. They have received nine goals in two of the aforementioned defeats, four from Bayer on their field and five from Bayern Munich. They only played draws against Werder and Hertha as guests (1-1), while they in the last round mastered Mainz with 4-2 in the last round in front of their fans. It is obvious that they capitulated at least once in every match, but they also scored goals, so it is clear that the problem is in defence.

After Munich, Akpogum has replaced Bicakcic in the last line and in the last two matches, he did not change anything, while Nad.Amir replaced the injured Demirbay in the midfield. Their offensive duo Szalai-Kramaric was in good mood in the previous two matches, so Uth is again on the bench. Gnabry and N.Schulz could take a breather, which means that Kaderabek and Zuber will be on the sidelines, while everything else will be the same.

Probable lineups 1899 Hoffenheim: Baumann – Akpoguma, Vogt, B.Hubner – Kaderabek, Zuber – Grillitsch – Nad.Amiri, Geiger – Kramaric, Szalai

Verdict:

Both teams are struggling in the second half of the season, and a home field is a big problem for Schalke. Hoffenheim is receiving and scoring goals easily, and this trend could continue in Gelsenkirchen, especially because the host plays similar.

Pick:  both teams to score 1.58 - 58/100 @1XBet