Preview: Hoffenheim vs. Borussia Monchengladbach - prediction, team news, lineups

Gladbach, meanwhile, have returned from the World Cup with two successive defeats, so they will be hoping to put a stop to that streak at the weekend.

Match preview

Having won four of his first six league games in charge after joining Hoffenheim from FC Zurich last summer, Andre Breitenreiter must have had high hopes for his first season in charge at the club.

However, just one win in the ensuing 11 matches - which came against rock-bottom Schalke 04 in mid-October - has seen Die Kraichgauer drop to 13th in the table, and more worryingly only three points clear of the relegation zone.

Hoffenheim should possess far too much individual quality to have any real fears about falling into the bottom three positions, though, with their main man Andrej Kramaric rescuing a point for them against Stuttgart in midweek.

The Croatia forward had opened the scoring after 11 minutes before the visitors scored either side of half-time to turn the match on its head, but Breitenreiter's side capitalised on Naouirou Ahamada's late dismissal to avoid a fifth successive league defeat.

Breitenreiter's masterful achievement in winning the Swiss Super League with Zurich last season illustrates that Hoffenheim undoubtedly possess a talented manager at their disposal, but the 49-year-old will be more than aware that he requires a victory sooner rather than later to avoid unsurmountable pressure building on his shoulders.

For the visitors, it has been a disappointing couple of matches since returning to action after the World Cup, with Daniel Farke's side beaten by both Bayer Leverkusen and Augsburg.

Gladbach fell three goals down at home to Leverkusen before a late brace from Lars Stindl gave them false hope, while Mergim Berisha's 82nd-minute winner handed struggling Augsburg all three points at the WWK Arena on Wednesday evening.

Die Fohlen's legendary goalkeeper Yann Sommer has, of course, departed for Bayern Munich earlier this month, with his compatriot Jonas Omlin signed from Montpellier as his replacement. The 29-year-old will be hoping to collect a clean sheet sooner rather than later with such big gloves to fill.

Despite starting the season strongly under Farke after the former Norwich City boss was appointed last summer, European qualification looks likely to be a tall order for Gladbach, with the likes of Eintracht Frankfurt, Borussia Dortmund and Freiburg all nine points ahead of them in the table.

As such, the 46-year-old may have his eyes set on ensuring that his first season ends with a top half finish. In the short term, they are likely to require a positive result against Hoffenheim in order to stay there by the end of this weekend.

Hoffenheim Bundesliga form:

D

L

L

L

L

D

Borussia Monchengladbach Bundesliga form:

L

L

W

L

W

L

Team News

Hoffenheim will be without the suspended Kevin Akpoguma, who received his fifth booking of the season as a substitute against Stuttgart. The defender had replaced Robert Skov after only 28 minutes due to a calf issue, which is likely to keep the Denmark international sidelined for a few weeks.

Pavel Kaderabek could shift higher up the pitch into a right wing-back role as a result, with Ermin Bicakcic coming in at centre-back, but Breitenreier is unlikely to be able to call upon the services of Ozan Kabak (foot), Jacob Bruun Larsen (groin), Grischa Promel (ankle) or Dennis Geiger (knock).

Gladbach, meanwhile, could travel without Jonas Hofmann and Christoph Kramer due to illness and concussion respectively, while Borges Sanches remains sidelined by a tendon injury.

After scoring a brace against Leverkusen in his last appearance before earning a suspension due to receiving his fifth booking of the season, Stindl will almost certainly replace Kramer should his compatriot be ruled out as expected after being withdrawn at half-time away to Augsburg last time out.

Hoffenheim possible starting lineup:

Baumann; Bicakcic, Vogt, Nsoki; Kaderabek, Rudy, Bischof, Angelino; Baumgartner, Kramaric; Bebou

Borussia Monchengladbach possible starting lineup:

Omlin; Lainer, Itakura, Elvedi, Bensebaini; Weigl, Kone; Ngoumou, Stindl, Plea; Thuram

We say: Hoffenheim 2-2 Borussia Monchengladbach

Both teams are more proficient offensively than they are defensively, with the two sides involved in 110 goals in just 34 games between them so far this season.

As such, it should be an entertaining encounter, and we can envisage a share of the spoils as both teams look to rebuild confidence across the coming weeks.

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