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

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Richards was given a torrid time of it on his return to parent club Bayern Munich last weekend as mid-table Hoffenheim fell to a comprehensive 4-0 defeat. The US international showed no ill-effects in midweek, though, playing the full 90 minutes in a resounding 5-1 win over Bundesliga 2 outfit Holstein Kiel in the DFB Cup second round. Defender Kevin Vogt, midfielders Sebastian Rudy and Angelo Stiller, and forwards Munas Dabbur and Georgino Rutter were rotated in, but are expected to drop back to the bench on Bundesliga Matchday 10. First-term regulars Florian Grillitsch, Diadie Samassekou, Dennis Geiger, Jacob Bruun Larsen and Ihlas Bebou should be recalled. Christoph Baumgartner may also have a part to play after two games out, and could be key to helping star forward Andrej Kramaric add to his one goal and six assists so far this term.

Like Hoffenheim, Hertha negotiated a potential banana skin on Tuesday. The Old Lady followed up back-to-back Bundesliga wins over Eintracht Frankfurt and Borussia Mönchengladbach by beating fourth-tier side Preußen Münster 3-1. Stevan Jovetic and ex-Hoffenheim forward Ishak Belfodil repaid head coach Pal Dardai's faith with a couple of goals, while Marco Richter was on target for the third game in a row. Full-back Deyovaisio Zeefuik and forwards Dennis Jastrzembski and Davie Selke were among the fringe players included in an experimental line-up, but Boateng was not one of them. Despite being the most decorated name on the Hertha books, the veteran midfielder has not started a game since the 2-1 loss to Freiburg on 2 October. That is unlikely to change at the PreZero Arena, given 10th-placed Hertha's much-improved form of late.

Match stats

Kramaric has had a hand in seven of Hoffenheim's 17 goals this Bundesliga season.

Bruun Larsen and Baumgartner lead the way for Hoffenheim goals with three apiece.

Hoffenheim's only defeat in their last 11 Bundesliga meetings with Hertha came at home in May 2020. They've won the other seven and drawn three.

Scoring in two successive games for the second time in his Bundesliga career, Richter has joined Jurgen Ekkelenkamp and Suat Serdar on a team-leading two goals for the season. Goals in three straight league matches would be a first.

Belfodil scored 16 of his 18 goals in a Hoffenheim shirt during the 2018/19 Bundesliga season. He has since gone 24 league games without a goal, including his first five for Hertha.

The Old Lady have won two Bundesliga matches in a row for the second time this season. In the last five years, they have only recorded three straight top-flight victories twice (September-October 2019 and August-September 2016).

Probable line-ups

Hoffenheim: Baumann (c) - Posch, Grillitsch, Richards - Akpoguma, Samassekou, Geiger, Raum - Bruun Larsen - Bebou, Kramaric

Out: Bicakcic (knee), Hübner (back), John (shoulder), Kaderabek (ankle)

Doubtful: Baumgartner (not included)

Coach: Sebastian Hoeneß

Hertha: Schwolow - Pekarik, Boyata (c), M. Dardai, Plattenhardt - Ascacibar, Serdar - Richter, Darida, Mittelstädt - Piatek

Out: Klünter (shoulder), Torunarigha (thigh)

Doubtful: -

Coach: Pal Dardai