Hoffenheim vs. Arminia Bielefeld: probable line-ups, match stats and LIVE blog!

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With three consecutive defeats - four including their elimination from the DFB Cup to Freiburg - Hoffenheim are desperately in need of good news, although none was forthcoming from the club's doctors with Andrej Kramaric given a sicknote for Sunday. Georginio Rutter should stand in the Croatian forward's stead, with Munas Dabbur helping to lead an attack which drew a blank in the 2-0 defeat to Mainz on Matchday 21. One good piece of news for Sebastian Hoeneß is the return of Chris Richards, and the USMNT international should return to the defence with Florian Grillitsch the alternative. Sebastian Rudy is also fit again and competing with Diadie Samassekou for a place at the heart of the Hoffenheim midfield, but winter recruit Justin Che is likely to have to make do with a place on the bench to start with.

Bielefeld extended their recent unbeaten run to six games with a 1-1 draw at home to Borussia Mönchengladbach, but one of the stars of that streak - January Player of the Month candidate Patrick Wimmer - is unavailable this weekend due to suspension. Alessandro Schöpf should come in for him as a straight swap alongside Masaya Okugawa, with coach Frank Kramer otherwise reluctant to make any changes to his side as they try to pull away from the relegation zone. Andres Andrade has not yet made a full recovery from an ankle injury, so Nathan de Medina should hold onto his place in defence.

Match stats

Although he's only scored three times this season, Andrej Kramaric has struck the frame of the goal three times (joint second most in the league) and is joint third in the division for assists (seven).

The last time Hoffenheim lost more than four matches in a row in all competitions was over nine years ago, but they've only suffered defeat in one of their last eight home league games.

However, TSG have still never lost a competitive fixture against Bielefeld (W2, D3 - all in the Bundesliga).

Okugawa and Wimmer are Bielefeld's greatest attacking threats with a direct hand in eight goals each.

Arminia and Bayer Leverkusen are the only teams yet to lose in the Bundesliga in 2022.

Bielefeld have covered the most distance of all teams this season under Frank Kramer, who took charge of two games as caretaker coach at Hoffenheim in 2012.

Probable line-ups

Hoffenheim: Baumann - Richards, Vogt, Hübner (c) - Bebou, Geiger, Rudy, Raum - Baumgartner - Dabbur, Rutter

Out: Bicakcic (knee), John (not included), Kaderabek (thigh), Kramaric (not included), Skov (thigh)

Doubtful: Akpoguma (thigh),

Coach: Sebastian Hoeneß

Bielefeld: Ortega (c) - Brunner, Pieper, Nilsson, de Medina - Kunze, Vasiliadis - Okugawa, Schöpf, Krüger - Serra

Out: Andrade (ankle), Wimmer (suspended)

Doubtful: Hack (match fitness)

Coach: Frank Kramer