Hoffenheim vs Borussia Dortmund Preview & Prediction
When is Hoffenheim vs Borussia Dortmund on and what time does it start? Hoffenheim vs Borussia Dortmund will take place on Friday 29 September, 2023 – 19:30 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for Hoffenheim vs Borussia Dortmund? Visit each club’s official website for the latest ticket information
What channel is Hoffenheim vs Borussia Dortmund on in the UK? Sky Sports have the rights to German Bundesliga matches in the UK so it is worth checking their schedule for Hoffenheim vs Borussia Dortmund
Where can I stream Hoffenheim vs Borussia Dortmund in the UK? If televised on Sky Sports, Hoffenheim vs Borussia Dortmund can be streamed live on the Sky Go app
THE LOWDOWN
HOFFENHEIM
It’s safe to say that Hoffenheim have firmly silenced the doubters who suspected another season of struggle could be ahead of them, at least as it stands. Their latest triumph was a real statement of intent, defeating Union Berlin 0-2 in the German capital. Whilst Pellegrino Matarazzo may have developed a side with a penchant of scoring goals on a regular basis, he’ll be most pleased about them managing to secure a first clean sheet of the campaign.
Victory over Borussia Dortmund would not only be their fifth straight triumph in the Bundesliga, it would also see Hoffenheim top the table going into the weekend. When considering that they have racked up three goals in three of their last four games, the home fans have every right to be confident of a potentially memorable night being on the cards in Sinsheim.
BORUSSIA DORTMUND
Making hard work of things at home as been a habit for Borussia Dortmund so far this season, but they did get the job done against Wolfsburg last weekend, securing victory by a goal to nil, the second time this campaign that they have won at home by a single goal. Marco Reus was on the scoresheet for Edin Terzic’s side, his second goal in consecutive Bundesliga fixtures.
Back-to-back league victories have been most welcome for Dortmund either side of their defeat away at French champions PSG in the Champions League. The carrot of success against Hoffenheim is a big one as like their opponents, three points here would take them top of the Bundesliga, at least temporarily ahead of both Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen.
THE TEAM NEWS
HOFFENHEIM
Hoffenheim remain without Dennis Geiger, Bambase Conte and Marco John through injury. Striker Wout Weghorst will be hoping to prove his fitness ahead of kickoff, whilst Stanley Nsoki also misses out. Although Florian Grillitsch is available, Matarazzo may well stick with the same midfield combination which saw them triumph in Berlin with Anton Stach keeping his place.
PREDICTED XI (3-5-2): Baumann; Kabak, Vogt, Brooks; Kaderabek, Promel, Stach, Kramaric, Skov; Beier, Weghorst
UNAVAILABLE: Conte (Injured), Geiger (Injured), John (Injured), Nsoki (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Weghorst (Fitness)
BORUSSIA DORTMUND
Terzic is expected to bring Donyell Malen back into the starting line-up, although Niclas Fullkrug could once again be preferred to Sebastien Haller up top, the latter having not yet opened his account in front of goal this season. Thomas Meunier, Mateu Morey and Marcel Sabitzer are all missing due to injury.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Kobel; Ryerson, Hummels, Schlotterbeck, Bensebaini; Can, Ozcan; Malen, Reus, Brandt; Fullkrug
UNAVAILABLE: Meunier (Injured), Morey (Injured), Sabitzer (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
THE PREDICTION
Coming off the back of four consecutive wins, confidence is clearly high within the Hoffenheim camp and when taking into account their current free-scoring nature, Borussia Dortmund are in for a very stiff test. The visitors are yet to keep a clean sheet on the road this season, but they also boast significant firepower going forward, with the likes of Malen and an in-form Reus no doubt set to cause the Hoffenheim backline huge problems. The result itself is hard to predict with Hoffenheim on a winning run and Dortmund very difficult to beat, but both teams to score is well worth backing.
