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Hoffenheim logo
Bundesliga | Gameweek 19
Jan 27, 2024 at 2.30pm UK
PreZero Arena
Heidenheim

Hoffenheim
1 - 1
Heidenheim

Kramaric (45+7' pen.)
Stach (59'), Akpoguma (72'), Brooks (89'), Grillitsch (90+4')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Dinkci (29')

Preview: Hoffenheim vs. Heidenheim - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Bundesliga clash between Hoffenheim and Heidenheim, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Hoffenheim will be aiming to end a winless streak of four league games when they host Heidenheim in the Bundesliga on Saturday.

The visitors, meanwhile, can climb above their opponents in the table if they can claim an away win.


Match preview

Hoffenheim's Maximilian Beier pictured on November 4, 2023© Reuters

Since flying out of the traps with six wins from their opening nine league games this season, Hoffenheim have tasted victory just once in the following nine matches to fall to eighth in the table. After losing 3-0 away to the reigning champions Bayern Munich in their first game back from the winter break, Pellegrino Matarazzo's side were beaten 3-2 by Freiburg last weekend.

Having fought their way back from two goals down at Europa-Park Stadion, Matarazzo would have been left furious by Roland Sallai's late winner. This is especially true considering that the hosts had been reduced to 10 men following Manuel Gulde's dismissal.

The former Stuttgart boss will be concerned about his side's defensive structure and performance levels, having conceded three goals in each of their last four outings. This includes when taking the lead three times against rock-bottom SV Darmstadt 98, who managed to restore parity on each occasion.

Hoffenheim will be hoping for a different outcome against the other promoted team this weekend. However, given that Heidenheim will make the short trip across Baden-Wurttemberg in superior form, that is far from a given.

FC Heidenheim coach Frank Schmidt before the match on January 13, 2024© Reuters

Indeed, Heidenheim extended their unbeaten run to five matches when drawing 1-1 against Wolfsburg last weekend. Frank Schmidt's side won three games in a row prior to the winter break, and they have returned in the New Year with successive 1-1 draws to remain in the top half of the table.

Heidenheim fell behind to the Wolves after just seven minutes when Vaclav Cerny bagged his second goal in two games, but they were fortunate to head into the break level courtesy of Mortiz Jenz's own goal on the stroke of half time. Both teams lacked fluency and appeared content with sharing the spoils towards the end of the encounter.

Schmidt and his players could hardly be blamed if that was the case. They have double the amount of points on the board of Darmstadt, FC Koln - who they gained a point away to in their first match back from the winter break - and Mainz 05 inside the automatic relegation places, meaning that they should have enough about them to survive their debut Bundesliga campaign.

However, Schmidt will be determined to avoid any complacency setting in among his players, especially having worked so hard to sit inside the top half of the table beyond the halfway stage of the season. If they can secure only their second away win of the campaign on Saturday, they would move up to the heady heights of eighth position.

Hoffenheim Bundesliga form:

Heidenheim Bundesliga form:


Team News

Hoffenheim's Grischa Promel is shown a red card by referee Benjamin Brand on January 12, 2024© Reuters

Hoffenheim will be without Diadie Samassekou, who is competing for Mali at the Africa Cup of Nations. Turkey defender Ozan Kabak is suspended after receiving his fifth caution of the season against Freiburg, with Kevin Akpoguma the likeliest candidate to replace him.

Mergim Berisha and Marco John are ruled out for the rest of the season due to ACL injuries, while Dennis Geiger is still sidelined by a groin issue. However, Grischa Promel could return to the engine room after serving a one-match suspension following his dismissal against Bayern.

Heidenheim, meanwhile, will travel without Thomas Keller and Elidon Qenaj due to knee injuries. Christian Kuhlwetter should be available after recovering from illness, but he is unlikely to feature in any case.

Schmidt may see no reason to make any changes from the team that drew 1-1 against Wolfsburg last time out, meaning that Tim Kleindienst should lead the visitors' offensive line once again.


Hoffenheim possible starting lineup:
Baumann; Akpoguma, Grillitsch, Nsoki; Kaderabek, Promel, Stach, Bulter; Kramaric; Weghorst, Beier

Heidenheim possible starting lineup:
Muller; Traore, Mainka, Gimber, Fohrenbach; Schoppner, Maloney; Dinkci, Beck, Beste; Kleindienst


SM words green background

We say: Hoffenheim 2-2 Heidenheim

Hoffenheim's defensive record has been wretched in recent times, meaning that Heidenheim will fancy their chances of recording an upset. The visitors are one of the most potent teams from set-pieces in the Bundesliga and could cause plenty of issues in that regard.

However, the hosts clearly possess greater individual talent in offensive areas, and should have enough to score a couple of goals themselves. We can envisage an entertaining score draw between two sides who look set to finish in mid-table this season.



For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting over 2.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Over 2.5:data


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Game History

How you voted: Hoffenheim vs Heidenheim

Hoffenheim
54.2%
Draw
37.5%
Heidenheim
8.3%
24
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Tables header RHS
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1Bayern MunichBayern108203372626
2RB Leipzig106311551021
3Eintracht FrankfurtFrankfurt1062226161020
4Bayer LeverkusenB. Leverkusen104512116517
5Freiburg105231311217
6Union BerlinUnion Berlin1044298116
7Borussia DortmundDortmund105141818016
8Werder Bremen104331721-415
9Borussia MonchengladbachBorussia M'bach104241514114
10Mainz 05Mainz103431514113
11Stuttgart103431919013
12Wolfsburg103341918112
13Augsburg103341320-712
14Heidenheim103161315-210
15Hoffenheim102351319-69
16St Pauli10226712-58
17Holstein Kiel101271225-135
18VfL BochumVfL Bochum100281030-202


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