Preview: Eintracht Frankfurt vs. Hoffenheim - prediction, team news, lineups

The visitors, meanwhile, are in danger of falling into the bottom half of the table having failed to win their last three matches.

Match preview

Having secured their place in the Champions League knockout stages - where Napoli will await them after Monday's last-16 draw - for the first time in their history with a dramatic turnaround to beat Sporting Lisbon 2-1 away from home last week, Frankfurt made it three wins from four in the Bundesliga by beating Augsburg by the same scoreline on Saturday.

Once again, Oliver Glasner's side had to come from behind after Mergim Berisha had struck for the hosts with the fastest goal of the season so far inside the first minute, with Sebastian Rode and Ansgar Knauff bagging either side of half-time to complete their side's comeback.

Die Adler remain on course in all three competitions having also defeated Stuttgarter Kickers to reach the third round of the DFB-Pokal, with Glanser a hugely popular figure in Frankfurt having ended their long wait for a European trophy by lifting the Europa League in his first season in charge.

Should Union Berlin be defeated by Augsburg simultaneously on Wednesday, a win for Frankfurt would move Glasner's side above them - and into the Champions League qualification positions - on goal difference ahead of their final match prior to the World Cup against Mainz 05 on Sunday.

Hoffenheim, on the other hand, are sliding in the opposite direction in the league table after falling to a 3-1 defeat at home to RB Leipzig on Saturday.

Georginio Rutter levelled the proceedings five minutes after half-time to cancel out Christopher Nkunku's early opener, but the France forward edged the visitors ahead once more before Dani Olmo all but settled the match 21 minutes from time.

Andre Breitenreiter's side have won just one of their last seven league games ahead of their trip to Frankfurt on Wednesday, with their strong early season form under the man who defied all expectations by winning the Swiss Super League with FC Zurich last season the only reason that they remain in ninth place before a ball is kicked on Tuesday.

With Mainz, Wolfsburg and FC Koln all within touching distance of them, though, Hoffenheim's top half status could change if they do not claim a positive result against the Europa League winners this week.

Eintracht Frankfurt Bundesliga form:

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Eintracht Frankfurt form (all competitions):

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Hoffenheim Bundesliga form:

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Hoffenheim form (all competitions):

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Team News

Daichi Kamada missed the trip to Augsburg at the weekend due to suffering from flu, and the Japan midfielder may not be risked so close to the start of the World Cup.

Timothy Chandler, Christopher Lenz and Makoto Hasebe are not expected to be available on Wednesday either, but Knauff will be hoping for a recall to the starting XI having scored the winner from the substitutes' bench last time out.

Hoffenheim, meanwhile, will travel without Grischa Promel, Munas Dabbur, Luca Philipp, Benjamin Hubner and Ihlas Bebou due to injury, while Ermin Bicakcic is expected to miss out once again.

Andrej Kramaric is likely to start having only appeared from the bench against Leipzig on Saturday, with Sebastian Rudy likely to be called upon in midfield after Promel sustained a broken ankle against Marco Rose's side.

Eintracht Frankfurt possible starting lineup:

Trapp; Tuta, Jakic, Ndicka; Knauff, Sow, Rode, Pellegrini; Lindstrom, Gotze; Muani

Hoffenheim possible starting lineup:

Baumann; Akpoguma, Vogt, Nsoki; Skov, Rudy, Geiger, Baumgartner, Angelino; Rutter, Kramaric

We say: Eintracht Frankfurt 2-1 Hoffenheim

We expect to see a fairly open encounter between two sides who enjoy attacking, but Frankfurt are undoubtedly in better form right now and should be able to claim another victory.

Hoffenheim have clearly dipped in standards since returning from September's international break, and the forthcoming World Cup may be coming at a good time for Breitenreiter's side.

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