Borussia Dortmund will want to continue the unbeaten start to the 2023/24 Bundesliga season when they take on TSG 1899 Hoffenheim on Friday.
The 2023/24 Bundesliga season resumes this week with Matchday 6, as clubs look to get closer to their objectives. The latest round of fixtures will kick-start at the Rhein-Neckar Arena, with TSG Hoffenheim hosting Borussia Dortmund in a crucial game for both teams.
TSG 1899 Hoffenheim entered the 2023/24 season looking to make major improvements after a sub-par 2022/23 campaign. And they have started their journey in the new term strongly, winning four of their five games thus far to climb to fifth in the Bundesliga standings.
On the other hand, Borussia Dortmund narrowly missed the Bundesliga title last season, although they only had themselves to blame after nearly clinching the triumph on the final matchday. But the Black and Yellows have not started the new campaign well, already dropping points in two games, although they are only two points behind Bayern Munich. Meanwhile, Edin Terzic’s men lost their opening UEFA Champions League fixture this term, going down 2-0 last week.
The corresponding fixture last season saw Borussia Dortmund beat Hoffenheim 1-0, with Julian Brandt scoring the match-winner. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
TSG 1899 Hoffenheim
"Geiger, John & Conte are still out. Furthermore, @nsoki_stanley still has issues with his patellar tendon and is not an option. Wout Weghorst will try and train today, so his participation (for tomorrow's match) is doubtful."
🗣️ Pellegrino #Matarazzo #TSGBVB pic.twitter.com/JDUK7pyP6t
— TSG Hoffenheim EN (@tsghoffenheimEN) September 28, 2023
Pellegrino Matarazzo has a few pressing concerns hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture. Against Borussia Dortmund on Friday, the TSG 1899 Hoffenheim manager will be bereft of the services of four first-team players.
Stanley Nsoki (knee), Bambase Conte (pelvis), Dennis Geiger (groin), and Marco John (ankle) find themselves in the treatment room. Meanwhile, Matarazzo has been sweating over the fitness of Florian Grillitsch (hip) and Wout Weghorst (muscle injury).
Oliver Baumann is an automatic pick between the sticks for TSG Hoffenheim, who should line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation in front of the club captain. The central defensive unit will likely feature Ozan Kabak, John Anthony Brooks, and Kevin Vogt.
The trio will look to remain compact to cut out the passing lanes. Meanwhile, they will also enable Hoffenheim to play out from the back, facilitating smooth build-up plays. Meanwhile, Pavel Kaderabek and Robert Skov should be the two wing-backs, with the duo providing width in the final third.
Grischa Promel and Anton Stach will pair up in the double pivot, with the duo’s presence shoring up the things in the middle of the park. Finally, Ihlas Bebou should spearhead the Hoffenheim attack, with Andrej Kramaric and Maximilian Beier completing the numbers in the final third.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Baumann; Kabak, Brooks, Vogt; Kaderabek, Promel, Stach, Skov; Kramaric, Beier; Bebou
Borussia Dortmund
Like his counterpart in the Hoffenheim dugout, Edin Terzic has some issues to deal with ahead of the trip to the Rhein-Neckar Arena. The Borussia Dortmund manager will be without four first-team players on Friday.
Mateu Morey (knee), Thomas Meunier (hamstring), Julien Duranville (match fitness), and Marcel Sabitzer (groin) are on the sidelines. But Terzic has enough resources to get a positive result from Friday’s game.
🎙️ Terzic
"Not much has changed to the squad in the last week. With Morey and Meunier it will take until the international break. Marcel Sabitzer can hopefully do parts of team training again next week. pic.twitter.com/R6N3QNz8qk
— Borussia Dortmund (@BlackYellow) September 28, 2023
Gregor Kobel is the first-choice goalkeeper for Borussia Dortmund, who will line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him. Julian Ryerson is the first-choice right-back in Morey and Meunier’s absence. The 25-year-old should join Mats Hummels, Nico Schlotterbeck, and Ramy Bensebaini in the backline.
As for the midfield unit, Felix Nmecha should accompany new captain Emre Can in the double pivot. The duo will look to keep things tight in the middle of the park, with Nmecha providing the forward thrust.
Marco Reus should be the most advanced midfielder for the visitors, with the German international looking to run the show in the final third. Julian Brandt and Donyell Malen will likely be the two wide attackers, with Sebastien Haller spearheading the attack. Niclas Fullkrug will thus be on the bench.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Kobel; Ryerson, Hummels, Schlotterbeck, Bensebaini; Can, Nmecha; Malen, Reus, Brandt; Haller
Key Stats
- Borussia Dortmund have won five of their last six Bundesliga meetings with Hoffenheim, collecting 16 from a possible 18 points, their best return of all teams they’ve faced across the last three seasons.
- TSG 1899 Hoffenheim have made their best-ever start to a Bundesliga season, managing 12 points in five games. They have already won four times thus far this term, one shy of the tally they managed in the first half of the 2022/23 campaign.
- Borussia Dortmund have only suffered one defeat in their last 22 competitive matches, which came against Paris Saint-Germain in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League.
- Borussia Dortmund have scored in their last 25 Bundesliga games and have not featured in a goalless Bundesliga draw in 132 games.
- Borussia Dortmund fell behind in both their away games thus far in the 2023/24 Bundesliga season. But they came back to pick up four points in those outings. Only Hoffenheim have collected more points after going behind this term and are yet to drop a point at home.
Player to Watch
Sebastien Haller
The striker situation at Borussia Dortmund is becoming intriguing this season. Sebastien Haller could do no wrong when he joined the Black and Yellows after an impressive stint with Ajax. But his spell on the sidelines due to his health scare has hampered his progress considerably.
The Ivory Coast international has struggled to hit the heights of his spell with Ajax. In addition, Niclas Fullkrug’s arrival has complicated matters further for the 29-year-old. So, an impressive showing against a high-flying Hoffenheim might be what the doctor ordered for him to become the undisputed first-choice striker.
Prediction
TSG 1899 Hoffenheim 1-2 Borussia Dortmund
Hoffenheim and Borussia Dortmund are two of the most eye-catching teams in the Bundesliga this season. While the hosts have been pleasantly surprising with their strong start to the campaign, the Black and Yellows have shown mental fortitude in their comebacks in away games.
Another challenging outings is on the cards for Borussia Dortmund, who might fall behind to the in-form Hoffenheim team. But impressive performances by Sebastien Haller and Donyell Malen will seal the points for the away side. The Hard Tackle predicts a hard-fought 2-1 win for Edin Terzic and his charges.