Borussia Dortmund will host TSG Hoffenheim at Signal Iduna Park on Sunday, looking to get back to winning ways.
Borussia Dortmund are coming into the game vs TSG Hoffenheim on the back of consecutive draws in the Bundesliga, and they have dropped to seventh in the league table. The Black and Yellows will be hoping to compete in the UEFA Champions League next season, and they need to start picking up points.
The home fans will be thoroughly disappointed with the performances so far this season, and it remains to be seen whether the players can step up and turn things around. Meanwhile, Hoffenheim are 14th in the Bundesliga table, and they have been quite mediocre this season. They could be dragged into the relegation battle if they continue to perform at this level.
They will need to raise their game, and it remains to be seen whether they can grind out a good result here. The last time these two sides met, Hoffenheim picked up a 3-2 win away from home and they will be hoping for a similar result here. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Borussia Dortmund
Borussia Dortmund will be without Niklas Sule due to an ankle injury vs TSG Hoffenheim. Nico Schlotterbeck is ruled out with an ankle problem as well. The home side are likely to shape up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Gregor Kobel in goal.
Julian Ryerson and Yan Couto will be deployed as the full-backs here. They will look to help out at both ends of the pitch. Emre Can will start at the heart of the defence alongside Ramy Bensebaini.
As for the midfield unit, Lucas Nmecha will start alongside Pascal Gross in the double pivot. They will look to add creativity and control to the side from the deep. Julian Brandt will start as the central attacking midfielder here, and he will look to create goalscoring opportunities for his teammates.
Jamie Bynoe-Gittens and Karim Adeyemi will add pace, flair and goals from the wide areas. Finally, Serhou Guirassy will lead the line for Borussia Dortmund vs TSG Hoffenheim on Sunday evening .
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Kobel; Ryerson, Can, Bensebaini, Couto; Gross, Nmecha; Gittens, Brandt, Adeyemi; Guirassy
TSG Hoffenheim
The visitors have multiple injury problems this week. Marius Bulter is ruled out with a thigh injury, Florian Grillitsch has an ankle problem, Umut Tohumcu has an ankle injury, Christopher Lenz has a calf problem, Ozan Kabak is out with an ACL injury, and Grischa Promel is out with ACL tear as well.
TSG Hoffenheim are likely to shape up in a 3-4-1-2 formation vs Borussia Dortmund, with Oliver Baumann in goal. In the back three, Anton Stach will start alongside Arthur Chaves and Stanley Nsoki. Valentin Gendrey and Alexander Prass will start as the wing-backs, and they will look to help out defensively and hit Borussia Dortmund on the break.
As for the midfield unit, Tom Bischof will start alongside Dennis Geiger. They will look to add control, composure, and defensive cover to the side. Andrej Kramaric will start in the hole and he will look to link up with the attackers – Jacob Larsen and Adam Hlozek.
Probable Lineup (3-4-1-2): Baumann; Stach, Chaves, Nsoki; Gendrey, Bischof, Geiger, Prass; Kramaric; Larsen, Hlozek
Key Stats
- 17 goals have been scored in the last six meetings between these two teams.
- Borussia Dortmund are winless in four of their last six league games.
- Hoffenheim are winless in five of their last six league games.
- Both teams are on a three-match winless run in all competitions.
- Both teams have conceded 20 or more goals in 13 league games this season.
Player to Watch
Jamie Bynoe-Gittens
The Borussia Dortmund winger is our key player to watch out for this weekend. He has been an impressive form this season, scoring five goals and picking up three assists in nine league starts. Furthermore, he is in red-hot form right now. The player has four goals in his last five outings in all competitions. He will look to create goalscoring opportunities for his teammates and add to his goal tally for the season.
Prediction
Borussia Dortmund 1-1 TSG Hoffenheim
Both teams have been quite poor defensively, and this is likely to be an open game with a fair few chances. Neither team will want to end up on the losing side, and this is likely to be a close contest. It could be difficult to separate the two teams here, and they are likely to cancel each other out and share the spoils in a draw.
