Hoffenheim vs Freiburg Preview & Prediction
When is Hoffenheim vs Freiburg on and what time does it start? Hoffenheim vs Freiburg will take place on Saturday 19 August, 2023 – 14:30 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for Hoffenheim vs Freiburg? Visit each club’s official website for the latest ticket information
What channel is Hoffenheim vs Freiburg 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 Freiburg
Where can I stream Hoffenheim vs Freiburg in the UK? If televised on Sky Sports, Hoffenheim vs Freiburg can be streamed live on the Sky Go app
THE LOWDOWN
HOFFENHEIM
Hoffenheim found themselves in serious danger of relegation at times last season and were forced into a change mid-season which saw Pellegrino Matarazzo installed as head coach in February, returning to the club where he had served his senior first-team coaching apprenticeship as assistant to Julian Nagelsmann and Alfred Schreuder respectively. Matarazzo guided them to the relative comfort of 12-place and they’ll be hoping to look down on their Bundesliga opponents moving forwards rather than up.
Christoph Baumgartner was sold to RB Leipzig for a reported €24m, joining the likes of Stefan Posch, Sebastian Rudy and Mu’nas Dabbur in leaving the club. Left-wing-back Angelino has also departed, joining Galatasaray on a season-long loan. However, not only has defender Attila Szalai been signed from Fenerbahce, Hoffenheim have also substantially boosted their frontline, signing striker Wout Weghorst on loan from Burnley and Marius Bulter on a permanent deal from Schalke 04. Weghorst was a regular scorer in the Bundesliga for Wolfsburg.
FREIBURG
Hopefully the heartbreak of not finishing in the top four and thus reaching the Champions League has been erased from the minds of Freiburg going into the new campaign. Christian Streich’s side were in and around the top four for the entirety of the season and at one stage early on, were even fighting for top spot in the Bundesliga table. But the rigours of such a long season started to take their toll and as a result, Freiburg missed out on the Champions League by three points.
The hope is that they can once again compete against in the higher echelons of the Bundesliga in 2023-24, but they will need to adapt to the losses of both first-choice goalkeeper Mark Flekken and midfielder Kevin Schade, both of who have left for Brentford with the Premier League side paying a total of over €30m to bring in the two players.
THE TEAM NEWS
HOFFENHEIM
Hoffenheim fans will no doubt be looking forward to seeing their shiny new offensive set-up here with Weghorst likely to make his debut alongside Andrej Kramaric as part of a front two. They may not be the only attackers set to start though, with Bulter also a real contender to be thrown straight into the side.
From a defensive perspective, this game may come too soon for Szalai and when also taking into account the questionable fitness of Ozan Kabak, this could leave Hoffenheim short at the back. Midfielder Dennis Geiger, an ever-present last season is also out injured.
PREDICTED XI (3-4-1-2): Baumann; Akpoguma, Vogt, Brooks; Kaderabek, Stiller, Grillitsch, Promel; Bulter; Kramaric, Weghorst
UNAVAILABLE: Geiger (Injured), Tohumcu (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Asllani (Injured), Kabak (Injured), Szalai (Injured)
FREIBURG
Both of Freiburg’s new money signings, strikers Junior Adamu and goalkeeper Florian Muller are not expected to be among the starting XI, with Noah Atubolu the player Streich is earmarked to pick as Flekken’s replacement between the sticks ahead of Muller. Adamu may not even make it onto the bench due to an injury that sees him rendered doubtful for this one.
Freiburg should set up in a 4-2-3-1 formation initially, with Michael Gregoritsch potentially being the one chosen to lead the frontline. There is plenty of competition for a place in midfield, but Daniel-Kofi Kyereh is not in contention as he is out injured. Also missing is Nicolas Hofler, who is suspended.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Atubolu; Kubler, Ginter, Lienhart, Gunter; Eggestein, Rohl; Doan, Holer, Grifo; Gregoritsch
UNAVAILABLE: Kyereh (Injured), Hofler (Suspended), Rosenfelder (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
THE PREDICTION
An entertaining encounter looks very much in prospect between these two sides, both of who will be desperate to start with three points. The strength of Hoffenheim definitely lies within their attacking when considering the players at their disposal at the front end of the pitch. However, there remain question marks over their defence and Freiburg are more than good enough to capitalise, with a plan no doubt having been forced by Streich on how to take advantage of Hoffenheim’s deficiencies. Plenty of chances to score are expected from both sides and over 2.5 goals appears to be on the cards.
