Hoffenheim vs. Augsburg preview: Two sides looking for Conference League next season
Two European hopefuls in Hoffenheim and Augsburg play at the Rhein-Neckar-Arena on Sunday in Sinsheim. Augsburg have been one of the best teams in the Rückrunde, whilst Hoffenheim have picked up their pace.
Hoffenheim
Hoffenheim narrowly lost last week against the league leaders Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 despite Maximilian Beier putting the team from Sinsheim ahead for almost sixty minutes with his first half strike.
Adding to this, TSG Hoffenheim have scored more goals (45) than every team in the bottom half of the Bundesliga other than Borussia Mönchengladbach who have one more (46).
Also, Hoffenheim have only lost once in their last four Bundesliga games against Augsburg (1-0 last February) and also has fifteen wins to the Bavarians' seven all-time against each other.
Maximilian Beier has been the main success story for Pellegrino Matarazzo's side this campaign as he has thirteen goals in the Bundesliga.
Lastly, ahead of the tie against Augsburg, Hoffenheim's coach Matarazzo said: "Augsburg play forward at speed and go for the second balls. But one should not reduce them to second balls; they also have variations in their build-up play."
Team news
Marco John and Mergim Berisha are both out for Hoffenheim. There are no doubtful players for Sunday.
Augsburg
Augsburg drew in an agonising result despite having the majority of the ball and the bigger chances. Without frontman Ermedin Demirović, Jess Thorup's team had little to no end product.
In spite of this, they were extremely unlucky in the second half to not have a second goal as Jan Thielmann heroically saved the ball on the line to rescue a point for the sorry relegation-threatened Köln side.
One positive for Augsburg will be the return of their striker Ermedin Demirović following a yellow card suspension. The attacker has fourteen goals this campaign in the Bundesliga.
Adding to this, Augsburg have been one of the brightest and most surprising teams in the Rückrunde of this Bundesliga season as they have eighteen points in ten games.
They sit in seventh with a chance to move three points clear of eighth (Freiburg) with a win on Sunday afternoon.
Lastly, ahead of the tie with Hoffenheim, coach Jess Thorn said: "They have high quality, especially going forward and especially after counterattacks. We have to be careful."
Team news
Augsburg have a massive injury problem with the following players out: Niklas Dorsch (foot injury), Raphael Framberger (knee injury), Robert Gumny (knee injury), Reece Oxford (illness), Elvis Rexhbecaj (ankle issue).
Doubts for Sunday are Patric Pfeiffer and Kevin Mbabu.