Hoffenheim is set to host Bayer Leverkusen at PreZero Arena on Saturday, aiming for a pivotal victory in the Bundesliga top-four race. Currently, Hoffenheim sits in fifth place with 30 points, following a decisive 5-1 win against Borussia Monchengladbach. In contrast, Leverkusen is in sixth place with 29 points, after suffering a heavy 4-1 loss to Stuttgart on January 10.
Match Preview
Hoffenheim displayed impressive performance against Gladbach, taking a commanding 4-0 lead by halftime. They created eight significant chances throughout the match. Remarkably, Hoffenheim has scored at least three goals in seven of their last ten Bundesliga matches. Their total of 34 league goals far surpasses the 20 goals they had at this point in the previous season.
Manager Christian Ilzer will be pleased with the team’s defensive improvements, as they have reduced their goals conceded from 11 in the first five matches to just 10 in the subsequent 11 games. Although Hoffenheim’s recent form includes one loss and one draw in their last four matches, they have not lost in eight games across all competitions, securing five wins during that stretch.
A victory for Hoffenheim would mark their sixth consecutive win at home, while they currently trail fourth-placed Stuttgart by only two points, despite having played one game less.
Bayer Leverkusen’s Recent Performance
Bayer Leverkusen faced a challenging match against Stuttgart, suffering a 4-0 defeat. In their last six league games, they have only kept one clean sheet but managed to score ten goals. Head coach Kasper Hjulmand aims to avoid repeating their poor performance against Hoffenheim from August, which ended a five-match winning streak against them.
Leverkusen has struggled, with three losses in their last five Bundesliga outings. They did, however, secure three wins in their last six matches, which included a Champions League draw. On the road, Leverkusen has recorded only two losses in 11 away games this season, winning five of their last six matches away from home.
Team News
Hoffenheim will miss forward Adam Hlozek due to injury. However, their top scorer, Fisnik Asllani, who has netted eight times, is available. Joint second top scorer Tim Lemperle, with six goals, is also fit to play. Ozan Kabak is expected to fill a defensive role alongside Robin Hranac as Koki Machida is ruled out.
For Bayer Leverkusen, centre-back Edmond Tapsoba is sidelined due to a muscle injury. Jarell Quansah, Loic Bade, and Jeanuel Belocian are likely candidates to fill the defensive gap. Midfielder Exequiel Palacios is expected to return by late January, which positions Robert Andrich and Aleix Garcia for inclusion in the starting lineup. Martin Terrier may lead the attack alongside Malik Tillman and Jonas Hofmann.
Predicted Lineups
| Hoffenheim | Bayer Leverkusen |
|---|---|
| Baumann | Flekken |
| Coufal | Quansah |
| Hranac | Bade |
| Kabak | Belocian |
| Prass | Arthur |
| Kramaric | Andrich |
| Avdullahu | Garcia |
| Burger | Grimaldo |
| Lemperle | Hofmann |
| Asllani | Tillman |
| Toure | Terrier |
In summary, Hoffenheim looks to capitalize on their strong home form against a struggling Bayer Leverkusen. The match promises to be a closely contested battle as both teams vie for critical points in the Bundesliga.
