Relegated SV Darmstadt 98 aim to scupper Hoffenheim's European bid when they host Pellegrino Matarazzo's men in gameweek 33's action in the Bundesliga on Sunday.
This weekend's game is the bottom side's final top-flight game at Merck-Stadion am Bollenfalltor, and they seek to end a wretched campaign positively on home turf against a side keen to end in the continental qualification positions.
Match preview
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Darmstadt losing 3-0 to in-form Wolfsburg last weekend ratified the bottom side's immediate return to Bundesliga 2, having failed to get to grips with the top division after promotion.
The Lilies may have lost their survival battle but have a chance of ending a disappointing 2023-24 positively in front of their fans in their final Bundesliga match as hosts this term.
However, Torsten Lieberknecht's men must overcome a pitiful record in Hesse that has witnessed one victory on home soil all season, with six consecutive losses in the lead-up to Sunday's match.
Darmstadt's inability to score has been a bugbear, underscored by firing blanks in four of their six recent home defeats and eight of the last 11 losses in front of their supporters.
It remains to be seen if the already-relegated club end the season with a positive result at home, but there should be motivation to end on a high after a disappointment-filled return to the big time.
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Hoffenheim are not anticipated to be in a benevolent mood this weekend, with Matarazzo's side battling to end in the continental qualification positions in the concluding gameweeks of 23-24.
Die Kraichgauer lie eighth in the Bundesliga, one point outside the final guaranteed spot behind out-of-form Freiburg, who have won just one of their last five top-flight games.
However, the eighth-placed side are not faring that much better, highlighted by two wins in five and picking up one point from an available six leading up to Sunday's match.
More worrying for the away side has been the dip in road results since ending February with four points from six on the road — a 2-2 draw at Wolfsburg and a 3-2 win over Borussia Dortmund. Hoffenheim have since been on the receiving end of four consecutive losses, conceding three goals or more three times — 3-1 against Eintracht Frankfurt, 4-1 at Mainz 05 and 3-2 at Bochum.
While their current position may suffice for continental qualification — a European spot will pass down Bayer Leverkusen win the DFB-Pokal — Matarazzo's side are not assured of eighth, with Augsburg (39 points), Heidenheim and Werder Bremen on 38 and Wolfsburg (37) closely behind Die Kraichgauer (40), further adding to the jeopardy before Sunday.
Team News
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Christoph Zimmermann was booked for the fifth time this term last weekend against Wolfsburg, thus ruling out the 31-year-old Darmstadt defender on Sunday.
While Matthias Bader (nose), Klaus Gjasula (pelvis), Tobias Kempe (knee) and Matej Maglica (knock) are doubtful for Sunday's match, the hosts are anticipated to be without Fabian Holland (knee), Fraser Hornby (ankle), Braydon Manu (muscle) and Clemens Riedel (foot).
Tim Skarke netted twice in Darmstadt's 3-3 draw in the reverse fixture, and the forward should start in gameweek 33, keen to add to his eight league goals this term.
Andrej Kramaric is Hoffenheim's in-form player, having notched four goals in his last five league appearances, and the Croatian will back himself to add to his 12 Bundesliga strikes.
Matarazzo must do without Mergim Berisha (knee), Dennis Geiger (groin), Marco John (knee) and Stanley N'Soki (hip) for the penultimate weekend of the season.
SV Darmstadt 98 possible starting lineup:
Schuhen; Reidel, Klarer, J. Muller; Nurnberger, A. Muller, Justvan, Karic; Mehlem; Vilhelmsson, Skarke
Hoffenheim possible starting lineup:
Baumann; Kabak, Grillitsch, Akpoguma; Kaderabek, Promel, Stach, Bulter; Kramaric; Weghorst, Beier
We say: SV Darmstadt 98 1-2 Hoffenheim
Despite Hoffenheim's four losses on the trot away from home, Matarazzo's troops should back themselves for maximum points against Darmstadt. Die Kraichgauer are undefeated in six matches against newly promoted clubs — four wins and two draws — securing four straight road triumphs against such opponents, potentially becoming five this weekend.
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