TSG Hoffenheim vs. Borussia Dortmund preview: Visitors keen to bounce back

TSG Hoffenheim:

As the Bundesliga season turns the bend into the home straight, Matchday 30 serves up yet another enticing fixture as TSG Hoffenheim face off against Borussia Dortmund. The action from the PreZero Arena gets underway at 15:30 CET on Saturday. 

While being well positioned in the Champions League places for much of the campaign, those dreams have been dented in recent weeks. Last Saturday was no different, as the Sinsheim club were forced to settle for a 2-2 stalemate with FC Augsburg.

Goals from Robin Hranáč and Bazoumana Touré managed to salvage a draw which still could have been a defeat if not for Alexis Claude-Maurice's late penalty miss. Results elsewhere ultimate saw Leverkusen leapfrog them into fifth place. 

Things only get trickier for Christian Ilzer's men too, with Dortmund rolling into town. A win here seems vital to keep Champions League hopes alive, but that's easier said than done considering Hoffenheim have lost 7 of their last 10 games with BVB. 

Team news: 

Hoffenheim have a largely clean bill of health aside from Koki Machida (ACL tear), Adam Hlozek (calf) and Valentin Gendrey (ankle) who have been absent for large chunks of the season for the Sinsheimers.

Baumann will tend to goals behind Coufal, Kabak, Hranáč and Hajdari. The middle third should see Prömel, Avdullahu and Burger slot in behind veteran Kramarić. In attack, Asllani and Touré ought to pose ample threat.

Predicted lineups: Baumann – Coufal, Kabak, Hranáč, Hajdari – Prömel, Avdullahu, Burger – Kramarić – Asllani, Touré

Borussia Dortmund:

Moving over to Borussia Dortmund, they still hold a healthy eight-point lead in second place over VfB Stuttgart and RB Leipzig. Although their chances of competing for the Meisterschale have, in all likelihood, faded for another campaign. 

Last weekend's rather tame 1-0 defeat to Bayer Leverkusen enabled leaders Bayern to stretch the difference out to 13 points. Robin Andrich's first-half strike proved to be the difference, consigning BVB to only their third loss of the Bundesliga. 

There may be little left to play for other than league position for Niko Kovač's side, but pushing for a strong finish should be their main objective. Should they bounce back to form, they Westphalians will be on course for their second-best ever points tally. 

Having achieved a 2-0 win over Hoffenheim back in September, Dortmund will be confident they can repeat the dose in Sinsheim. Especially when the hosts have claimed just one victory in their last seven topflight outings. 

Team news:

Emre Can (ACL tear), Felix Nmecha (torn knee ligament) and now Karim Adeyemi (muscular problems) will miss out on Saturday. Serhou Guirassy (fitness) is also slight doubt to feature given he is in a race to be fit in time.

Kobel ought to feature behind Anton, Schlotterbeck and Bensebaini. Sabitzer and Bellingham will likely play inside Ryerson and Svensson, while the attack should feature Beier and Brandt behind Silva. 

Predicted lineup: Kobel – Anton, Schlotterbeck, Bensebaini – Ryerson, Sabitzer, Bellingham, Svensson – Beier, Brandt – Silva