Two sides separated by only two points in the Bundesliga table will meet on Wednesday as Hoffenheim and FC Koln lock horns at the Rhein-Neckar-Arena.
Hoffenheim go into the game following a 1-1 draw with rock-bottom SC Paderborn, whereas Koln staged a late comeback to rescue a point against Fortuna Dusseldorf last weekend.
Match preview
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Hoffenheim fans would have been forgiven for expecting a comfortable victory for their team against the division's basement side last weekend, but Paderborn equalised only five minutes after Robert Skov's fourth-minute opener to take a share of the spoils.
Alfred Schreuder was left to rue his side's missed chances as Hoffenheim failed to win for the seventh Bundesliga game in succession - a result which leaves them ninth in the table on 36 points after 27 matches.
As it stands, Hoffenheim remain only three points off a Europa League spot, but Schreuder will recognise that his side's results must improve if their are to mount a serious charge for European football.
Hoffenheim have actually lost their last three home games on the bounce in Germany's top flight, but the ninth-placed side will be encouraged by their 6-0 thrashing of Koln in their last meeting at the Rhein-Neckar-Arena.
Should other results go their way, a midweek victory for Hoffenheim could lift them into seventh - level on points with Wolfsburg but with a far worse goal difference.
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Meanwhile, Koln came back from 2-0 down against Fortuna Dusseldorf to rescue a point following late goals from Anthony Modeste and Jhon Cordoba.
That 2-2 draw leaves Koln two points adrift of Hoffenheim in 10th at this stage of the campaign, a position which Markus Gisdol will likely be satisfied with come the end of the season.
Realistically, Koln have very little to play for at the moment as they lie in mid-table obscurity, but Gisdol will certainly be wary of the sides below them as the fight to avoid relegation hots up.
Koln's away form is actually quite strong, however, as last season's 2.Bundesliga champions have won three, drawn one and lost two of their last six outings on the road.
With Koln being able to boast the superior goal difference over the two sides above them, Gisdol's men could leapfrog Hoffenheim and Schalke into eighth should David Wagner's side lose to Dusseldorf in their clash on Wednesday.
Hoffenheim Bundesliga form: LDLDLD
Koln Bundesliga form: WWWLDD
Team News
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The home side will be without Andrej Kramaric, Sargis Adamyan, Ishak Belfodil and Kostas Stafylidis for the midweek visit of Koln.
Munas Dabbur made his return to action off the substitutes bench against Paderborn, and the striker could be in line for a start as both managers look to cope with the hectic fixture schedule.
Kevin Akpoguma did not feature for Hoffenheim in their draw with Paderborn, but the German centre-back could slot in alongside Stefan Posch and Benjamin Hubner in the heart of defence.
Koln forward Cordoba, who notched up his 11th Bundesliga goal of the season last weekend, will likely feature from the off once again.
Centre-back Rafael Czichos remains on the sidelines, meaning that Toni Leistner could deputise in the Koln defence for the second week running.
Dominick Drexler, who bagged both assists in Koln's draw against Dusseldorf, is pushing for a role in the first XI.
Hoffenheim possible starting lineup:
Baumann; Posch, Hubner, Akpoguma; Grillitsch; Kaderabek, Rudy, Geiger, Bebou; Skov, Dabbur
Koln possible starting lineup:
Horn; Ehizibue, Bornauw, Leistner, Katterbach; Skhiri, Hector; Kainz, Uth, Drexler; Cordoba
We say: Hoffenheim 1-2 Koln
Both Hoffenheim and Koln will go into the game determined to record their first victories since the Bundesliga resumed. Hoffenheim have struggled for goals in the absence of Kramaric, however, and we expect Koln to take all three points in what could prove to be an exciting affair.
Ben Knapton
