Bayer Leverkusen will look to return to winning ways when they hit the road to square up against an in-form Hoffenheim side.
Bundesliga top-four hopefuls Hoffenheim and Bayer Leverkusen will square off against each other on Saturday afternoon at the PreZero Arena.
The home team are fifth on the table with 30 points in their 16 outings. They are two points behind fourth-placed VfB Stuttgart with a game in hand. The Kraichgauers are unbeaten in their last three league outings, winning two of those fixtures, and they will be confident about strengthening their chances of a top-four finish.
Upon their return post the break, Hoffenheim went wild and smashed Borussia Monchengladbach 5-1 in their last outing. It will certainly give them a lot of confidence heading into this fixture against Bayer Leverkusen.
Meanwhile, Borussia Dortmund are sixth on the table, just a point behind (29 points) Hoffenheim after 16 matches. The visitors have been a bit inconsistent in recent weeks, but a win here could change the trajectory of their season.
Leverkusen ended 2025 in fine fashion with back-to-back wins over FC Koln and RB Leipzig. However, they have not been able to carry that form into the new year. In their first fixture of the year, they suffered a massive 4-1 defeat at the hands of VfB Stuttgart.
Die Werkself will be eager to return to winning ways, but taking down an in-form Hoffenheim side won’t be easy. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at both teams and tries to predict the tactics they could deploy.
Team News & Tactics
TSG Hoffenheim
The home team will be without the services of Koki Machida (knee) and Adam Hlozek (calf). Apart from the duo, everyone else should be available for selection.
Hoffenheim could line up in a 4-3-3 formation, where Oliver Baumann will take charge in goal. Vladimir Coufal and Alexander Prass are expected to be the full-backs, while Robin Hranac will pair up with Ozan Kabak in the heart of the defence.
As for the midfield unit, Leon Avdullahu will take up the holding role in midfield, while Andrej Kramaric and Wouter Burger will be in his support. Kramaric is expected to drift into the number ten role, while Avdullahu and Burger could act as the double pivot.
Bazoumana Toure and Tim Lemperle are expected to feature out wide on the flanks. They will look to provide support to Fisnik Asllani, who is expected to lead the line for Hoffenheim against Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Baumann; Coufal, Hranac, Kabak, Prass; Kramaric, Avdullahu, Burger; Lemperle, Asllani, Toure
Bayer Leverkusen
The visitors will be without the services of Edmond Tapsoba (muscle) and Exequiel Palacios (groin), who are both out injured.
Bayer Leverkusen are expected to line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation, where Mark Flekken should start in goal. In the heart of the defence, Jarrell Quansah will start alongside Loic Bade and Jeanuel Belocian.
The trio will receive significant support from Arthur and Alejandro Grimaldo, who will feature as the wing-backs. Meanwhile, Robert Andrich will pair up with Aleix Garcia in the centre of the park. The duo will look to ensure Hoffenheim midfielders do not run the show.
Meanwhile, Jonas Hofmann and Malik Tillman will feature as the two attacking midfielders behind Martin Terrier, who will spearhead the Bayer Leverkusen attack against TSG Hoffenheim on Saturday afternoon.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Flekken; Quansah, Bade, Belocian; Arthur, Andrich, Garcia, Grimaldo; Hofmann, Tillman; Terrier
Key Stats
- Bayer Leverkusen have only lost two out of their 11 away games.
- Hoffenheim have found the back of the net on at least three occasions in seven out of their last ten outings.
- The home team have bagged 34 league goals so far, 14 more than they did at this stage last season.
- Bayer Leverkusen have kept just one clean sheet in their last six Bundesliga outings.
- Hoffenheim have conceded just 10 goals in their last 11 league outings.
Player to Watch
Fisnik Asllani
Since returning from his impressive loan spell at SV Elversberg (29 goal contributions), Asllani has managed to establish himself as an important part of their first team. The 23-year-old striker is certainly making the most out of the opportunities that he has had so far.
In his 18 appearances for Hoffenheim, the Kosovan striker has seven goals and five assists. He bagged two assists in their sensational win over Borussia Monchengladbach last time out, and given the kind of form he has been in, the 23-year-old could have a big say on the end result of this fixture.
Prediction
TSG Hoffenheim 2-2 Bayer Leverkusen
Hoffenheim will head into this clash full of confidence after their emphatic win over Borussia Monchengladbach and their recent unbeaten run in the league. With their attack firing on all cylinders and Fisnik Asllani in fine form, the home side will look to take the game to Bayer Leverkusen, especially on the counter, while aiming to make the most of their home advantage.
Bayer Leverkusen, on the other hand, will be eager to respond after their heavy defeat to VfB Stuttgart and rediscover the momentum they had towards the end of last year. While their away record has been solid, defensive lapses remain a concern against a free-scoring Hoffenheim side.
Expect a competitive and open contest, with both teams having enough quality going forward to cancel each other out. The Hard Tackle predicts a hard-fought 2-2 draw for Saturday’s Bundesliga clash at the PreZero Arena.
