Hertha Berlin vs. Hoffenheim: probable line-ups, match stats and LIVE blog

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Boateng, 35, has made just 13 appearances and not yet completed 90 minutes since re-signing for boyhood club Hertha in the summer, with neither of the Old Lady's previous coaches this season - Pal Dardai and Tayfun Korkut - opting to make full use of him. Will that change now Magath has come in? Although expected to be absent this weekend on account of being in isolation, the man who's guided Bayern Munich and Wolfsburg to Bundesliga titles has a rescue act on his hands after the Berliners dropped into the automatic relegation places in the wake of their 2-0 loss to Borussia Mönchengladbach. Yet they are only two points from a position of guaranteed safety. Ishak Belfodil looks set to continue leading the line, with top scorer Stevan Jovetic still a doubt. Magath also has a decision to make in goal. Marcel Lotka has played the last three games, even with designated second-choice Oliver Christensen back last week. Usual number one Alexander Schwolow is also back in training and could return.

Hoffenheim may have an extensive injury list, including USA defender Chris Richards and midfielder Sebastian Rudy, but that hasn't hampered their form at all. In fact, they top the table for points over the last five games (13) alongside RB Leipzig. And given that their one 'slip' was drawing 1-1 with Bayern last weekend, they're full of confidence in Sinsheim. Although that result saw them slip to sixth, they are tied on 44 points with Freiburg and Leipzig above them - and just one off Bayer Leverkusen in third. With the latter two both playing on Sunday, it's a great chance against a struggling Hertha to move into the top four and apply pressure on the others. Christoph Baumgartner got the goal against Bayern and will likely continue to play off the two strikers - the newly extended Andrej Kramaric likely alongside Ihlas Bebou - but could also drop deeper to cover for the suspended Diadie Samassekou. Otherwise, it'll be Dennis Geiger next to Angelo Stiller in central midfield. Captain Benjamin Hübner could also return after being cleared to train again.

Match stats

Magath takes charge of his 496th Bundesliga game, but first since a 2-0 loss to Freiburg on 20 October 2012 that cost him his job as Wolfsburg boss.

Boateng hasn't scored in 18 Bundesliga matches, stretching back to 17 March 2018. However, two of his 17 top-flight goals to date have come against Hoffenheim.

Hertha are the only Bundesliga team without a win in the Rückrunde. They've claimed just two points from nine games since the turn of the year - four less than the next worse.

With nine goals, Kramaric has scored more times against Hertha than any other Bundesliga team he's faced and more than anyone else in this fixture. Seven of them have fallen in Berlin.

Hoffenheim are on the longest unbeaten run of any Bundesliga team right now (five matches).

The Sinsheim club have lost just one of their last 12 encounters with Hertha (W8, D3) and haven't been beaten away at the Old Lady since November 2015.

Probable line-ups

Hertha: Christensen - Pekarik, Stark (c), Kempf, Mittelstädt - Richter, Tousart, Darida, Maolida - Serdar - Belfodil

Out: Jarstein (knee), Schwolow (match fitness)

Doubtful: Boateng (muscular), Bjorkan (match fitness), Jovetic (muscular)

Coach: Felix Magath

Hoffenheim: Baumann (c) - Posch, Grillitsch, Vogt - Kaderabek, Geiger, Stiller, Raum - Baumgartner - Bebou, Kramaric

Out: Bicakcic (knee), Pentke (not included), Richards (ankle), Rudy (hamstring), Samassekou (suspended), Skov (thigh)

Doubtful: Hübner (not included), Nordtveit (thigh)

Coach: Sebastian Hoeneß