Eintracht Frankfurt are set to travel to play Hoffenheim on Sunday at PreZero Arena in their first Bundesliga game since the transfer of Omar Marmoush to Manchester City was confirmed.
The home team are fourth last in 15th place with 17 points, but their 3-1 victory against Holstein Kiel on January 18 saw them move three points clear of the 16th-placed relegation playoff spot, while the Eagles are third with 36 points and defeated Borussia Dortmund 2-0 on January 17.
Match preview
© Imago
Hoffenheim failed to create a single big chance against Holstein Kiel despite scoring three times, as many goals as they managed in their prior six games.
Manager Christian Ilzer's side were beaten 3-2 on Thursday by Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League, and the loss means they have to win their final game in Europe and hope results go their way in order to qualify for the round of 16.
Die Kraichgauer lost 3-1 against Eintracht Frankfurt in the league on August 31, a match in which the victors produced 13 shots from inside the box compared to Hoffenheim's three.
Ilzer's team are in poor form, with the club's win against Holstein Kiel their only triumph in their last 11 outings in all competitions, losing on seven occasions in that period, including in four of their past five.
The hosts' record at home is poor considering they are winless in their five most recent games at PreZero Arena, losing their last three by a cumulative score of 6-3.
© Imago
Eintracht Frankfurt may find positive results harder to come by given earlier this week Man City confirmed the signing of forward Marmoush, who scored 20 goals and provided 13 assists for the German team this season.
To their credit, the Eagles did see past Dortmund fairly comfortably without the attacker, and their defence limited BVB to just two shots above 0.1 xG, the best of which was worth 0.18 xG.
Boss Dino Toppmoller will be pleased that his side managed to beat Ferencvaros 2-0 on Thursday in the Europa League as they have all but qualified for the round of 16 considering they now need just a point to advance automatically to the next stage.
Toppmoller's team have scored 42 goals and conceded 24 times in the Bundesliga, and these are the division's joint third-best offensive and joint fourth-best defensive records.
Eintracht Frankfurt are in strong form, with the club having emerged victorious in each of their last four games, though they did lose four of their previous six matches.
While the visitors' performances away from home have been subpar – they have been defeated in three of their four most recent away fixtures – they have won three of their last four away Bundesliga matches.
Team News
© Imago
Hoffenheim's injury list is extensive, with up to 10 players set to miss Sunday's clash, including defenders Christopher Lenz and Ozan Kabak.
Arthur Chaves and Kevin Akpoguma could start in defence behind a midfield two of Anton Stach and Finn Ole Becker considering Alexander Prass, Dennis Geiger, Diadie Samassekou and Grischa Promel are not likely to appear.
Forwards Erencan Yardimci, Ihlas Bebou and Haris Tabakovic are unavailable, so expect Tom Bischof, Adam Hlozek and Max Moerstedt to support Andrej Kramaric up front.
As for the visitors, they will be without centre-back Aurele Amenda, and his absence could lead Toppmoller to start Nnamdi Collins, Robin Koch and Arthur Theate in defence.
Midfielders Eric Ebimbe has been ruled out due to injury, while Mahmoud Dahoud and Oscar Hojlund are battling illness, so perhaps Hugo Larsson and Ellyes Skhiri will start in a double pivot on the weekend.
Attacker Elye Wahi signed for the club on Friday, but because he is sidelined as a result of injury, fans are likely to see Mario Gotze and Ansgar Knauff play behind striker Hugo Ekitike.
Hoffenheim possible starting lineup:
Baumann; Gendrey, Chaves, Akpoguma, Prass; Stach, Becker; Hlozek, Bischof, Moerstedt; Kramaric
Eintracht Frankfurt possible starting lineup:
Trapp; Collins, Koch, Theate; Kristensen, Skhiri, Larsson, Brown; Knauff, Gotze; Ekitike
We say: Hoffenheim 0-2 Eintracht Frankfurt
Though Hoffenheim did not concede many chances last time out, their defeat highlighted their defensive frailty, and their poor form suggests that they may struggle to keep a clean sheet.
It would not be surprising if Eintracht Frankfurt found it difficult to take advantage of their opponents given they are still adapting to life without Marmoush, but their superior quality in defence and attack should mean they leave with all three points.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Lewis Nolan
