Hoffenheim will be looking to end a four-game losing streak when they welcome fellow strugglers Stuttgart to PreZero Arena on Tuesday night.
The two sides are separated by three points at the bottom end of the Bundesliga table, with Stuttgart occupying the dreaded relegation playoff spot.
Match preview
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After recording three consecutive losses before the winter break, Hoffenheim would have been eager to begin the second phase of the season on a positive note, but they ended up suffering a fourth straight defeat.
Ihlas Bebou gave the Blues the lead against Union Berlin on Saturday, but Danilho Doekhi bagged a late brace to turn the game on its head before Jamie Leweling made it 3-1 to Union in second-half stoppage time.
Given that Union racked up more than 20 shots in Berlin, the hosts could – and probably should – have scored more than three goals.
Not only have Hoffenheim lost each of their last four Bundesliga outings, but they have also failed to win any of their previous six, registering one draw and five defeats in the process.
Having managed to win just one of their past 10 league matches – recording three draws and six losses along the way – Andre Breitenreiter's men find themselves four points clear of the automatic relegation places.
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Meanwhile, Stuttgart returned to Bundesliga action with a 1-1 draw against Mainz on Saturday, with Marcus Ingvartsen's penalty cancelling out Serhou Guirassy's opener.
Although the Reds remain third from bottom in the table, they will be happy to have picked up a point last time out, having made a dismal start to the 2022-23 campaign.
Indeed, Stuttgart failed to win any of their opening nine league matches this season, taking just five points from a possible 27, although they did manage to draw with Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig in that time.
Following that period, Bruno Labbadia's side registered three wins and three losses in the lead-up to the World Cup, thrashing VfL Bochum 4-1 before defeating Augsburg and Hertha Berlin.
There is no hiding the fact that Stuttgart have only managed to win three of their 16 Bundesliga games this term, but they will fancy their chances of avoiding relegation having stemmed the early-season rot.
Team News
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Hoffenheim will be without the injured duo of Grischa Promel (ankle) and Jacob Bruun Larsen (groin) for the foreseeable future, while Benjamin Hubner retired last month due to ongoing injury problems.
Pavel Kaderabek replaced Kevin Akpoguma during the first half of Saturday's 3-1 defeat to Union, meaning the Czech right-back could come into the starting XI on Tuesday.
Nice loanee Kasper Dolberg came off the bench to make his debut for the Blues last time out, so he could be handed his first start on Tuesday, with Andrej Kramaric also expected to return to the starting lineup.
As for Stuttgart, Laurin Ulrich looks set to miss the trip to Hoffenheim due to illness, while Dan-Axel Zagadou remains sidelined with an ankle injury.
Borna Sosa is also a doubt for the Reds, although Chris Fuhrich is expected to continue his return to first-team action after playing a cameo role in Saturday's draw with Mainz.
Hoffenheim possible starting lineup:
Baumann; Kaderabek, Kabak, Nsoki; Skov, Geiger, Stiller, Tasende; Baumgartner; Kramaric, Dolberg
Stuttgart possible starting lineup:
Muller; Anton, Mavropanos, Ito, Nartey; Ahamada, Karazor, Endo; Mvumpa, Guirassy, Tomas
We say: Hoffenheim 1-1 Stuttgart
This is destined to be a cagey affair between two sides struggling at the bottom end of the table, so Hoffenheim should be able to end their four-game losing run with a draw on home soil.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ben Morris
