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

bundesliga.com, 20 November 2021, 00:20
Will Christopher Nkunku start right up front for RB Leipzig against Hoffenheim on Saturday as he did against Borussia Dortmund before the international break (kick-off: 3.30pm CET)?
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Be it Nkunku, Yussuf Poulsen or Andre Silva, Hoffenheim will have their hands busy - in particular goalkeeper Oliver Baumann, whose four clean sheets this season put him second in the league standings. Two of those have come in the last two home games as Sebastian Hoeneß's side beat Cologne 5-0 and Hertha Berlin 2-0. It's actually three victories in a row in Sinsheim, but they have all been interspersed with away defeats. Andrej Kramaric has two goals and assists each in those home outings, taking him to within one of a milestone, but a concussion sustained on international duty with Croatia makes him doubtful. Jacob Bruun Larsen and Christoph Baumgartner remain the club's joint-top scorers with three apiece; the latter of those is also out. Chris Richards was away on international duty with the USA but should continue his run of having played every game since re-joining on loan from Bayern Munich.

Nkunku's goal and assist in the 2-1 win over Dortmund saw him named the Man of the Matchday and propelled Leipzig up to fifth after a tricky start to the season. The Frenchman has been in excellent form, with five goals and three assists all coming in the last six league fixtures as coach Jesse Marsch unleashed him in attack. He even played further forward than Poulsen in that last match, who himself is keeping out summer signing Silva. Willi Orban is back from the injury that kept him out of the Dortmund win and should slot straight into the heart of the back three, allowing Nordi Mukiele to shift forward to wing-back. Angelino will be on the opposite flank, with two of Tyler Adams, Amadou Haidara and Kevin Kampl to take the central midfield roles as Leipzig look to extend their seven-match unbeaten run in the league.

Match stats

Kramaric has scored a Hoffenheim record 99 competitive goals. He's hit two in 10 meetings with Leipzig.

Hoffenheim, meanwhile, are chasing their 100th Bundesliga home win. To date, they've won 99 of 226 on their own patch.

Encouragingly, Hoffenheim have won their last three at the PreZero Arena.

Leipzig have never lost in the Bundesliga with five-goal top scorer Nkunku and long-serving striker Poulsen in the same starting line-up (W10, D6).

Die Roten Bullen scored six times from 80 efforts on goal across the first five matchdays. They've converted 17 of 89 in six since.

Leipzig have claimed 15 of their 18 points this term at home, and are winless in an unwanted club record eight away Bundesliga games.

Probable line-ups

Hoffenheim: Baumann (c) - Richards, Grillitsch, Vogt - Akpoguma, Samassekou, Stiller, Raum - Bruun Larsen - Rutter, Bebou

Out: Baumgartner (thigh), Bicakcic (knee), John (shoulder), Kaderabek (ankle), Rudy (knock), Skov (thigh)

Doubtful: Hübner (match fitness), Kramaric (concussion)

Coach: Sebastian Hoeneß

Leipzig: Gulacsi (c) - Simakan, Orban, Gvardiol - Mukiele, Adams, Kampl, Angelino - Forsberg, Nkunku - Silva

Out: Halstenberg (ankle), Poulsen (calf), Saracchi (knee)

Doubtful: Haidara (ankle), Laimer (groin), Szoboszlai (thigh)

Coach: Jesse Marsch

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