Relative minnows Istanbul Basaksehir take on Hoffenheim in the Europa League next week, with both teams in desperate need of three points if they are to have any hope of making it through to the knockout stages of the competition.
Europe League – RNA, Sinsheim, Istanbul – Thursday 2nd November – 20:05 UK Time
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Draw Best Odd of: 5/2 at William Hill |
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TSG HoffenheimMatch Preview
Turkey’s rising stars Istanbul Basaksehir take on German Bundesliga side Hoffenheim next week knowing that they must start collecting points if they are to have any chance of progressing further into the competition. Abdullah Avcı’s men finished second in the Turkish top-flight last season, however they have struggled to find their best form this time around. With Hoffenheim in a similar position, this could well be one of the most intreuging encounters of the round Istanbul next week. For those interested in placing a bet on the match, be sure to check out or expert tip. However first, let’s take a closer look at the two teams, starting with Istanbul Basaksehir.
Istanbul Basaksehir Team News & Form
Despite having experienced players such as Gael Clichy, Emre Belözoğlu and Emmanuel Adebayor in their ranks, Istanbul Basaksehir have collected just a single point from their opening three Europa League matches, leaving them rock-bottom of Group C. They were soundly beaten in the reverse fixture against Hoffenheim just under a week ago, with manager Avci undoubtedly looking for a much more competitive display this time around. However, with just two goals to their names so far, the emphasis will be on the likes of Adebayor, Eljero Elia and Stefano Napoleoni to rediscover their goalscoring touch. Despite their troubles, the Istanbul-based club did claim an important point against rivals Besiktas in the league over the weekend, hinting that their best form may be around the corner.
Hoffenheim Team News & Form
Despite performing relatively well at the start of the Bundesliga season in Germany, Hoffenheim have also struggled in Europe, with their sole victory coming against Istanbul Basaksehir last week in Germany. 30-year-old manager Julian Nagelsmann, who has been linked with a move to the Premier League this week, will be looking for his side to deal with what their opponents have to throw at them once again next week, with Hoffenheim coming into the match off the back of a 1-1 draw away at Wolfsburg, which leaves them fourth in the Bundesliga standings. German international striker Sandro Wagner will be hoping to add to his tally for the season, with the 29-year-old having not scored in Europe since the opening week of the competition.
Head to Head
Before last week’s clash in Germany, the two teams had never previously met in a competitive fixture. However, the ease at which Hoffenheim dispatched of their Turkish opponents may give an indication as to how the reverse tie will pan out. However, with Istanbul never being an easy place to travel to, this really is a match that is difficult to predict.
Betting Odds and Predictions
Given the result in Germany last week, it perhaps doesn’t come as a surprise that Hoffenheim are the favourites for next week’s match with the majority of bookmakers. The visitors can be backed for the win at odds of 5/6 with Ladbrokes, while the same bookmaker has the hosts at 10/3.
Top Betting Tip
Our top betting tip for the match is to bet on a draw between the two sides, with Ladbrokes offering appealing odds of 5/2 for this market.