Hoffenheim vs Leverkusen Prediction 17 January 2026
🔊 Will Hoffenheim secure their sixth consecutive home victory? Christian Ilzer's side have pleasantly surprised Bundesliga fans this season, and it's intriguing to see how they will fare against Bayer in Sinsheim, especially since the hosts already defeated them in the first round in Leverkusen. The "pharmacists" haven't had the best start to 2026, but they've consistently won their last four matches in Sinsheim. Can Leverkusen claim their first victory of the new year and extend their successful run at the PreZero Arena?
Head-to-Head
📊 In August, during the first-round match, Hoffenheim secured their first victory over Bayer in three years with a 2-1 win. An early goal by Jarell Quansah was countered by precise strikes from Fisnik Asllani and Tim Lemperle. Interestingly, Bayer's away record in this fixture is stronger than their home performance. No visiting team has claimed more Bundesliga victories in Sinsheim than the Leverkusen club, with 11 wins from 17 trips, including triumphs in each of their last four visits.
Head-to-head statistics Hoffenheim - Leverkusen
Hoffenheim Team Overview
🔵 Andrej Kramaric netted a hat-trick in the first half as Hoffenheim thrashed Borussia Mönchengladbach 5-1, securing their fifth consecutive home victory. Alongside the Croatian, Tim Lemperle and Max Möhrstedt, who recently extended his contract with the club, also found the back of the net for the Blue-Whites.
⚪ With 30 points from 16 matches, this marks Hoffenheim's second-best start at this stage in their history, following their debut Bundesliga season in 2008/09 under Ralf Rangnick. Christian Ilzer's side sits in fifth place, trailing fourth-placed Stuttgart by just two points, with a game in hand. The team from Sinsheim remains unstoppable at the PreZero Arena, having scored at least three goals in each of their last five home games.
Match Results: Hoffenheim
Bayer Leverkusen Team Overview
🔴 Towards the end of last year, Kasper Hjulmand's team showcased some vibrant football, securing a victory over Leipzig (3-1) and climbing to third place in the standings. However, Leverkusen now approach the match sitting in sixth position following a heavy home defeat to Stuttgart (1-4).
⚫ On Tuesday, the match against Hamburg was canceled due to weather conditions-a decision made at the very last moment as the team was preparing to leave their hotel for the Volksparkstadion. With a game in hand, just like Hoffenheim, the "pharmacists" trail the "blue-whites" by just one point. At the PreZero Arena, Bayer will be fighting to overtake their rivals in the table and continue their quest for a Champions League spot.
Match Results: Bayer Leverkusen
Latest news
Hoffenheim
🎙 Christian Ilzer after the match against Gladbach: "It was the perfect start for us. In the locker room, we reminded ourselves that football has a very short memory, and we wanted to quickly show everyone what we stand for. The team executed this brilliantly on the pitch. The first half was outstanding. Today, we enjoy the success, but tomorrow we must focus on the match against Bayer."
🔝 Andrej Kramaric, who has already scored 132 goals, needs just two more to surpass Giovane Élber and become the third-highest scoring foreign player in league history, behind Robert Lewandowski and Claudio Pizarro.
❌ Albian Hajdari returns from suspension after accumulating too many yellow cards. Adam Hložek, Koki Machida, and Cole Campbell remain sidelined due to injuries.
Bayer Leverkusen
🎙 Kasper Hjulmand on the upcoming match: "Against teams like these, it's crucial to be proactive in attack and react swiftly after losing possession."
❓ The postponed match between Hamburg and Bayer Leverkusen still lacks a confirmed date, likely due to Leverkusen's ongoing participation in the Champions League. Meanwhile, the Round 16 clash between Werder Bremen and Hoffenheim has been rescheduled for January 27.
❌ Bayer's head coach will have to manage without Edmond Tapsoba, who has been diagnosed with a thigh injury. However, forward Christian Kouamé and midfielder Ibrahim Maza, who returned from the Africa Cup of Nations, are expected to be fit to play. Patrik Schick has fully recovered from his muscle issues. Eliesse Ben Seghir continues to represent Morocco at the Africa Cup of Nations, where the team will face Senegal in the final. The status of Axel Tapsoba and Exequiel Palacios remains uncertain.
🟨 Referee and Yellow Cards
The match will be officiated by Daniel Schlager, who averages 4.8 yellow cards per game. The home team averages 1.9 yellow cards, while the visitors average 2.3. A potential betting option is the over 1.5 yellow cards for Bayer - this market has hit in eight consecutive matches.
⚽ Goal Prediction
Both teams are known for their attacking prowess and feature a host of creative players. In this scenario, a reasonable bet is both teams to score (yes), which has come through in the last six head-to-head meetings between these sides.
🚩 Corner Prediction
Hoffenheim and Bayer average around five corners per match. We suggest Bayer over 4.5 corners - this has been successful in Bayer's last five matches.
Editorial Prediction
There is little doubt that this encounter will be high-scoring. We predict Hoffenheim's individual total to exceed 1.5 goals-a bet that has come through in their last five home matches.
This clash features two teams not just eyeing a spot in European competitions, but specifically targeting a Champions League berth, making it one of the standout fixtures of Matchday 18.
Christian Ilzer's side has shown consistent form since the start of the season, particularly shining at the PreZero Arena. Given Bayer's squad issues and their poor start to the year, we anticipate a home victory with a scoreline of 2-1.
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Betting Tips: Hoffenheim - Bayer Leverkusen
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Comparison of Teams Stats
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