Hoffenheim vs. VfB Stuttgart: probable line-ups, match stats and LIVE blog

Latest

A late Andrej Kramaric strike secured Hoffenheim the points at Wolfsburg last weekend, and took them back into a three-team share of fourth spot with RB Leipzig and Freiburg. More of the same on Friday night would allow Hoffenheim to narrow the gap on third-placed Bayer Leverkusen to just a point and keep their dreams of top-table European dinner service next season alive, although coach Sebastian Hoeneß may have to reorganise his defence this Friday with Kevin Vogt set to miss out due to a groin injury. The good news is that Florian Grillitsch returns from suspension and can slot back into the defence, while Dennis Geiger is also back after being banned for the trip to Wolfsburg and he will be vying with Christoph Baumgartner for a place at the heart of the midfield. Chris Richards remains a doubt with a foot injury which has ruled him out of the past three games, although there is optimism that the USMNT international could make the bench.

There was a late goal also in Stuttgart's last game, although it was a lamentable one from the Swabians' perspective as an Eduard Löwen penalty deep into stoppage time denied them victory against Bochum. A win would have lifted Pellegrino Matarazzo's men to within a point of the relegation play-off berth, but instead they are still three adrift of Augsburg. That said, victory on Friday would see them move out of the relegation zone and Matarazzo's task is to lift his team's spirits for a must-win game, and all eyes will be on Sasa Kalajdzic, who is back in training and could return to the starting XI after missing the draw with Bochum. Injuries have limited the Austrian to just four starts this season and the 16 goals he supplied last season have been sorely missed. He should partner Omar Marmoush, who has two goals and three assists this season.

Match stats

After 23 Matchdays, Hoffenheim have already won as many games (11) as they did in the entire 2020/21 Bundesliga campaign.

Stuttgart have never before had as few as four wins at this stage of a Bundesliga season.

The Sinsheimers have won seven of their last nine Bundesliga home games.

Stuttgart have won only one of their 11 away games so far this term.

VfB are unbeaten in their last four games against Hoffenheim (two wins, two draws).

However, the visitors last win at the Rhein-Neckar-Arena came on February 17, 2013 when Martin Harnik scored the winner in a 1-0 victory.

Hoffenheim's Stefan Posch is one game away from his 100th appearance in the Bundesliga.

VfB have taken just two points from their last eight games. The Swabians are currently more games without a win than any other team in the division.

Probable line-ups

Hoffenheim: Baumann - Posch, Grillitsch, Hübner (c) - Bebou, Samassekou, Geiger, Raum - Kramaric - Rutter, Dabbur

Out: Bicakcic (knee), Skov (thigh)

Doubtful: Richards (foot), Stiller (ill), Vogt (groin)

Coach: Sebastian Hoeneß

Stuttgart: Müller - Stenzel, Mavropanos, Anton, Sosa - Endo (c), Karazor, Mangala - Führich, Kalajdzic, Marmoush

Out: Nartey (knee), Sankoh (knee), Silas (shoulder)

Doubtful: Coulibaly (not included), Didavi (not included), Millot (not included)

Coach: Pellegrino Matarazzo