Hoffenheim and VfL Bochum will both be aiming to bounce back from opening defeats in the 2022-23 Bundesliga season when they lock horns in Saturday's showdown at the PreZero Arena.
Andre Breitenreiter's 10 men suffered a 3-1 loss to Borussia Monchengladbach last time out, while the visitors went down 2-1 at home to Mainz 05.
Match preview
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The writing was seemingly on the wall for Hoffenheim when Stefan Posch collected two yellow cards within 19 minutes against Monchengladbach, but Breitenreiter's men still threatened an unlikely opening-day success when Robert Skov hit a 20th-minute opener.
However, Ramy Bensebaini kickstarted the Monchengladbach comeback just before half time, and Daniel Farke's side would then proceed to strike through Marcus Thuram and Nico Elvedi in the second half to round off a 3-1 success.
Following a dismal end to the 2021-22 season, Hoffenheim's winless run in the top flight of German football now stands at 10 matches, and the fixtures hardly get easier for Breitenreiter's side, who make the journey to Bayer Leverkusen following Saturday's contest.
The hosts are now under pressure to end a dismal five-game winless run on their own turf in the Bundesliga, with their most recent success at the PreZero Arena coming against Stuttgart back in February, but Saturday's game could be just what the doctor ordered for Breitenreiter.
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Meanwhile, VfL Bochum managed to keep all 11 players on the pitch during their opening-day showdown with Mainz 05, but it was a fruitless endeavour for Thomas Reis's men, who went down 2-1 on the day.
Two strikes from Karim Onisiwo either side of an equaliser from Kevin Stoger - formerly of Mainz - condemned Bochum to the worst possible start in the 2021-22 top flight as they commence another quest to stave off relegation to the second tier.
With champions Bayern Munich and last season's surprise package Freiburg still to come before the end of the month, Reis's side could very well find themselves near the dreaded dotted line in the coming weeks, and only one of their away games last term saw them keep a clean sheet.
Bochum also won just four times on their travels in the 2021-22 Bundesliga season, but one of those successes was a 2-1 triumph on Hoffenheim's turf, and the visitors also got the better of Die Kraichgauer 2-1 on their own turf in a memorable double.
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Team News
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Hoffenheim defender Posch will take his place on the naughty step this week following his sending off in the defeat to Monchengladbach, which should open the door for Stanley Nsoki to start alongside Ozan Kabak and Kevin Vogt.
Dennis Geiger, Ihlas Bebou, Ermin Bicakcic, Benjamin Hubner and Angelo Stiller are also expected to miss out through various injury and illness woes, so Breitenreiter's options for change are somewhat limited.
Diadie Samassekou was the unlucky one to be taken off following Posch's red card at the weekend, but the midfielder will expect to be given another chance from the first whistle this weekend.
As for Bochum, left-back Kostas Stafylidis has complained of a muscular problem since the defeat to Mainz, while Jannes Horn, Jacek Goralski and Patrick Osterhage are not available for the visitors either.
Reis has reinforced the backline with the signing of Dominique Heintz from Union Berlin, and it would not be a surprise to see the 28-year-old thrown straight into the first XI for his debut.
With another left-back in Danilo Soares still nursing a hip injury, Reis will likely call upon right-back Saidy Janko to fill the void on that side of the rearguard.
Bochum are also reportedly set to cope without Gerrit Holtmann due to a minor knee injury, so a spot has opened up for ex-Arsenal man Jordi Osei-Tutu to start this weekend.
Hoffenheim possible starting lineup:
Baumann; Vogt, Kabak, Nsoki; Kaderabek, Promel, Baumgartner, Samassekou, Skov; Kramaric, Rutter
VfL Bochum possible starting lineup:
Reiman; Gamboa, Ordets, Heintz, Janko; Losilla, Stoger; Osei-Tutu, Zoller, Asano; Hofmann
We say: Hoffenheim 2-1 VfL Bochum
Confidence is hardly sky-high in either camp right now, but Bochum should at least take some inspiration from their pair of victories over Hoffenheim in the 2021-22 season, and Reis's side will need such motivation to carry them over the line amid their fresh injury problems.
Breitenreiter will have also been forced to rethink tactically for Saturday's contest, but the hosts boast the more potent attacking options, and we can picture them emerging victorious by a narrow margin.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Ben Knapton
