Hoffenheim and Werder Bremen round off the Bundesliga weekend when they meet at the PreZero Arena on Sunday evening.
Both sides are locked level on 30 points and within reach of Eintracht Frankfurt in the final guaranteed European position, despite differing form recently.
Match preview
© Reuters
An eye-catching 3-2 win away at Borussia Dortmund was the surprise of the Bundesliga weekend last time out, as Hoffenheim continued their excellent run against the Black-Yellows.
Hoffenheim have come away with a result on four of their last six visits to Signal Iduna Park now, scoring 14 goals in the process.
More importantly, that result ended an eight-game winless run for Pellegrino Matarazzo's side, as a run of just one win in 14 prior to last week had threatened to end their European hopes after an excellent start.
Hoffenheim have not won consecutive matches since matchday five though, and that was their fourth victory in a row at that time.
Should the hosts achieve that feat here though, it would greatly strengthen their push for Europe and put the pressure on Frankfurt, who are four points above them.
Since 2019, Hoffenheim have beaten Bremen five times, which bodes well ahead of this fixture, as they have only recorded more wins against Koln over the same time period.
While it is still unknown whether seventh place will be good enough for Europe, depending on the DFB-Pokal winner, Bremen can stake their claim of even catching Frankfurt in sixth, given their form in 2024.
© Reuters
Only leaders Bayer Leverkusen have taken more points than Bremen's 13 since the halfway point, and Ole Werner's men have lost only once in their last 10 outings.
Last weekend's draw at home to Darmstadt will have felt like a defeat though, given their opponents' plight at the bottom of the standings, and after also losing to the Lilies earlier in the season, taking just one point from a possible six against them could prove costly.
Bremen will seek to make amends for that and take advantage of their hosts' poor home form, considering Hoffenheim have not won in four here.
Another good omen is that Bremen have been superb away of late, winning their last three league games on the road without conceding - a feat they have achieved for the first time since the 1981-82 season.
Hoffenheim got the better of Werner's men in the reverse though, and they did so in dramatic circumstances in a 3-2 success, as Jens Stage's 91st-minute equaliser looked like earning Bremen a draw, before Marius Bulter won it just a minute later.
Team News
© Reuters
Hoffenheim are set to be without experienced attacker Andrej Kramaric, as manager Matarazzo has confirmed he is a doubt for this encounter.
Tom Bischof and Bambase Conte should both return from illness, but the hosts remain without a number of first-team players here, as Robert Skov, Kevin Akpoguma, Mergim Berisha and Grischa Promel are among the important players that remain sidelined for Hoffenheim.
Werner has confirmed that Bremen attacker Justin Nijnmah is unlikely to feature here due to a groin problem, joining a lengthy list of players out injured.
Isak Hansen-Aaroen, Niklas Stark, Milos Veljkovic and Amos Pieper are making positive strides in their recoveries but are not ready to return, while a lack of match fitness will keep Naby Keita out.
Cimo Rocker could return to the squad following a brief illness, but an ankle ligament tear will keep Marco Friedl out for the foreseeable future.
Hoffenheim possible starting lineup:
Baumann; Kaderabek, Kabak, Brooks, Nsoki; Grillitsch, Stach, Tohumcu; Bebou, Weghorst, Beier
Werder Bremen possible starting lineup:
Zetterer; Malatini, Gross, Jung; Weiser, Lynen, Stage, Schmid, Agu; Woltemade, Ducksch
We say: Hoffenheim 1-1 Werder Bremen
Bremen's excellent recent away form has lifted them into European contention, but a draw with Darmstadt last weekend exposed their shortcomings again.
Hoffenheim have struggled on home soil but should bring plenty of confidence into this tight encounter after winning at Dortmund last weekend.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Andrew Delaney
