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

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Richards made 11 appearances for Hoffenheim during the second half of last season before his loan came to an end. Now, having made one league appearance for Bayern Munich under Julian Nagelsmann, Richards has returned to the PreZero Arena for the whole of the 2021/22 campaign. The USMNT defender stayed in Sinsheim during the international break and is in line to start for Sebastian Hoeneß's side, especially with Kevin Akpoguma likely to miss out. There's another boost for Hoffenheim with Ihlas Bebou back to full fitness and the Togolese forward is pushing to lead the attack this weekend ahead of Munas Dabbur and Georginio Rutter. That would see Andrej Kramaric returned to his role as No.10, which saw him provide four assists through the first two Bundesliga games of the season.

Mainz returned to winning ways just before the international break by putting three past promoted Greuther Fürth. The 05ers have largely picked up where they left off in last season's Rückrunde under Bo Svensson. They have also seen a host of first-team players return to the squad over the last two weeks. Adam Szalai was the only potential absentee here after his involvement in international games for Hungary, but he is available to compete with Jonathan Burkardt and Karim Onisiwo for a place in attack. Anderson Lucoqui scored his first goal for the club in the Fürth win and will hope to keep his place at left wing-back, while Marcus Ingvartsen - signed on loan from Union Berlin on deadline day - could also be part of the squad for the first time.

Match stats

Kramaric had scored, assisted or both in seven straight Bundesliga matches until Hoffenheim's defeat to Dortmund. He's scored four and assisted three in eight meetings with Mainz.

Jacob Bruun Larsen is Hoffenheim's top scorer after three matches, with two goals.

Hoffenheim are unbeaten in their last five home matches in the Bundesliga, winning their last four in a row.

Szalai is Mainz's fourth different goalscorer after three games. He scored 23 times in 100 Bundesliga appearances for Hoffenheim.

Mainz have lost only one of 11 away Bundesliga matches under Svensson, who's unbeaten in six games against TSG as a player and a coach (W5, D1).

The 05ers recorded the biggest away win in their Bundesliga history against Hoffenheim on 24 November 2019 (5-1).

Probable line-ups

Hoffenheim: Baumann - Richards, Posch, Vogt (c), Raum - Rudy, Geiger - Baumgartner, Kramaric, Bruun Larsen - Rutter

Out: Bicakcic (knee), Hübner (back), Nordtveit (thigh)

Doubtful: Akpoguma (not included)

Coach: Sebastian Hoeneß

Mainz: Zentner - St. Juste, Bell, Niakhate (c) - Widmer, Barreiro, Kohr, Lucoqui - Boetius - Burkardt, Szalai

Out: Martin (groin)

Doubtful: -

Coach: Bo Svensson