Germany: Bundesliga
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Hoffenheim
Greuther Fürth
By Ben Sully@SullyBen

Hoffenheim vs Greuther Fürth preview: Both sides desperate for victory

Greuther Fürth head to the PreZero Arena fully aware that they could be relegated on Sunday, while Hoffenheim require a victory to halt their current poor run of form.
Stefan Leitl.
Stefan Leitl.

Hoffenheim


After losing their last three matches, Hoffenheim’s Champions League hopes have dissipated, while they are under pressure to finish inside the top six.

For the second away game in a row, Die Kraichgauer suffered a 3-0 defeat last weekend, with goals from Christopher Nkunku, Marcel Halstenberg and Dominik Szoboszlai helping RB Leipzig clinch a comfortable victory.

A win is required on Sunday, with Hoffenheim set to face Eintrach Frankfurt, Freiburg and Bayer Leverkusen before they wrap up the season with an away trip to Borussia Park to face Borussia Mönchengladbach.

If they are to pick up points from a tricky run-in, then they need to improve at both ends of the pitch after losing their last three games by an aggregate 8-1 scoreline.

Despite their recent poor form, the hosts will be confident that they can find the net against the worst defence in the Bundesliga, especially as Hoffenheim have scored in 13 of their 14 home league games this season.

Although they have struggled of late, Hoffenheim have demonstrated their fighting qualities this season, with Sunday’s hosts picking up more points from losing positions than any other Bundesliga team this term.
Team News

A factor in Hoffenheim’s recent poor form has been an extensive injury list, and they will have to cope without a number of first-team regulars on Sunday. Florian Grillitsch, Ermin Bicakcic and Marco John will all miss out for the hosts, while Georginio Rutter is a doubt for Sunday’s contest. In more positive news, Kevin Akpoguma, David Raum and Kevin Vogt will all return to the squad after being suspended for the Leipzig encounter.

Greuther Fürth


Fürth could be relegated on Sunday, as they sit 12 points adrift of the relegation playoff spot, with just five matches left to play.

It is a case of when not if in regards to the visitors’ impending relegation, but before they drop down to the second tier, they will want to give their fans something to cheer about.

The Kleeblätter have endured a torrid campaign, highlighted by their current winless run, which spans seven league matches, with their most recent outing ending in a 2-0 home defeat to Borussia Mönchengladbach.

Their away form has been particularly poor and two points from their 15 away league matches this season will do little to lift the bottom-placed side ahead of Sunday’s fixture. Stefan Leitl’s charges have just three away games left to avoid ending the season without a single victory on the road, and they will be hoping to end that long wait on Sunday, when they come up against a Hoffenheim side that are struggling for points of late.
Team News

Leitl is unable to call upon Paul Seguin, Marco Meyerhöfer and Jeremy Dudziak, who are all injured. Afimico Pululu will also miss out with the forward suspended for the contest.

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