Borussia Dortmund will host Hoffenheim at Signal Iduna Park, looking to continue their unbeaten run and push for Champions League qualification.
Borussia Dortmund are currently fourth in the league table, but RB Leipzig are breathing down their necks ahead of the game against Hoffenheim this weekend. They cannot afford to drop points here, and this will be a must-win contest for them.
The home team have drawn two of the last three league matches, and they will be desperate to get back to winning ways here. Meanwhile, Hoffenheim are ninth in the league table, and they are winless in their last six league matches.
The away fans will be expecting a strong reaction here, and it remains to be seen whether Hoffenheim can bounce back strongly and pull off an upset here. The visitors have a dreadful record against Dortmund in the recent meetings, and the players will be determined to step up and deliver here.
Team News & Tactics
Borussia Dortmund
The home team will be without Sebastien Haller, who suffered an ankle injury during the Africa Cup of Nations. Meanwhile, Felix Nmecha misses out with a hip injury. The home team will start in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Alexander Meyer in goal.
Julian Ryerson and Ian Maatsen will continue as the full-backs. They will look to help out at both ends of the pitch. Mats Hummels will start alongside Nico Schlotterbeck in the central defensive unit.
In the midfield pivot, Marcel Sabitzer will start alongside Emre Can. The two players will look to help out defensively and add drive to the side. Marco Reus will start as the central attacking midfielder here, and he will look to create goalscoring opportunities for the site.
Donyell Malen and Jamie Bynoe-Gittens will start in the wide areas. They will look to add pace and flair to the side. Finally, Niclas Fullkrug will lead the line for Borussia Dortmund against Hoffenheim.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Meyer; Ryerson, Hummels, Schlotterbeck, Maatsen; Sabitzer, Can; Malen, Reus, Bynoe-Gittens; Fullkrug
Hoffenheim
The away team will be without Marco John and Mergim Berisha. Grischa Promel is sidelined with a knee injury as well. Meanwhile, Stanley Nsoki is suspended after being sent off last weekend.
Hoffenheim will shape up in a 3-4-1-2 formation, with Oliver Baumann in goal. In the back three, Ozan Kabak will start alongside John Anthony Brooks and Florian Grillitsch. Pavel Kaderabek and Robert Skov will start as the wing-backs here, and they will look to help out at both ends of the pitch.
Finn Becker will start alongside Umut Tohumcu in the central midfield. They will look to keep things compact in the middle of the park and break down opposition attacks. Andrej Kramaric will start as the central attacking midfielder here. Max Beier and Wout Weghorst will start as the strikers.
Probable Lineup (3-4-1-2): Baumann; Kabak, Brooks, Grillitsch; Kaderabek, Becker, Tohumcu, Skov; Kramaric; Beier, Weghorst
Key Stats
- Borussia Dortmund have won their last six matches against Hoffenheim in all competitions.
- Hoffenheim have failed to win their last eight matches in the Bundesliga.
- 17 goals have been scored in the last six matches between these two sides.
- Dortmund are unbeaten in their last six matches across all competitions.
- Hoffenheim have conceded 11 goals in their last six outings.
Player to Watch
Niclas Fullkrug
The 31-year-old striker has been impressive form this season, scoring 11 goals and picking up 7 assists in 20 league matches. He has chipped in with six goals and two assists in his last six matches for Dortmund. He will look to create goal-scoring opportunities for his teammates and add to his goalscoring tally here. The German international is our key player to watch out for this weekend.
Prediction
Borussia Dortmund 2-1 Hoffenheim
The home team are certainly the favourites here, and they should be able to grind out all three points. They have an excellent record against Hoffenheim, and they have the momentum with them as well. The visitors are struggling with a lack of confidence and belief right now. They are on a winless run, and Borussia Dortmund should be able to pile further misery on Hoffenheim.
