Preview: Hertha Berlin vs. Hoffenheim - prediction, team news, lineups

The hosts, meanwhile, are unbeaten in their last three matches, and have moved outside of the relegation places as a result.

Match preview

Indeed, after only surviving relegation by the skin of their teeth following a 2-1 win against Hamburger SV on aggregate in the relegation play-off last season, Sandro Schwarz appears to have made Hertha a much tougher team to beat already.

The former Mainz 05 boss signed a two-year contract during the summer, and having only taking one point from his opening four matches in charge, one win and two draws since has significantly improved the feeling around the club.

The 43-year-old came desperately close to beating his former club in Hertha's last match prior to the international break, when Anthony Caci's injury-time equaliser salvaged a point for Mainz after Lucas Tousart's strike on the half an hour mark looked to have provided Die Alte Dame with a crucial away win.

Since the disappointment of an opening day 3-1 defeat to fierce rivals Union Berlin, Hertha have only conceded six goals in their last six matches, which is a remarkable improvement for a team that conceded 71 goals in 34 league games during the last campaign.

As such, Schwarz will be confident that he can restrict Hoffenheim to very few opportunities at the Olympiastadion on Sunday, while being aware that both he and his team could really use a second win of the season to put some distance between themselves and the bottom three.

After finishing ninth last season, Hoffenheim appointed a new manager themselves during the summer, with Andre Breitenreiter leaving his post with FC Zurich in Switzerland to take the job.

So far, the former Schalke 04 boss has done an impressive job with Die Kraichgauer, picking up 13 points from seven matches to sit one point above reigning champions Bayern Munich in the table heading into the weekend's action.

Hoffenheim were not at their best during an even encounter against Freiburg last time out, though, with the game ending 0-0 at Rhein-Neckar Arena despite two in-form opponents registering 24 shots combined across the course of the match.

Breitenreiter will hope to see more cutting edge from his side in Berlin on Sunday, especially from his main man Andrej Kramaric, who has only scored twice in the league so far this season and almost certainly has plenty of more gears to move into under his new manager.

Hertha Berlin Bundesliga form:

D

L

L

W

D

D

Hoffenheim Bundesliga form:

W

W

W

L

W

D

Team News

Hertha have been rocked by the news that Jean-Paul Boetius has been diagnosed with having a testicular tumour, with the 28-year-old set to miss the next few months of action as a result.

Marco Richter has only recently returned from the same issue - providing hope for Boetius that he will recover and return to action - and may make his first start on Sunday having impressed from the bench in recent outings.

Vladimir Darida is likely to replace Boetius in midfield, while Marc-Oliver Kempf's ankle injury is likely to see Marton Dardai come into the centre of the defence.

Linus Gechter, Suat Serdar and David Selke are doubtful due to illness, while Derry Scherhant is struggling with a muscular issue.

Hoffenheim, meanwhile, will travel without Robert Skov, Ermin Bicakcic, Benjamin Hubner and Ihlas Bebou due to injury.

Breitenreiter is unlikely to make any changes from the starting XI that drew with Freiburg prior to the international break, with Christoph Baumgartner continuing in his advanced midfield role in support of Kramaric and Georginio Rutter.

Hertha Berlin possible starting lineup:

Christensen; Kenny, Uremovic, Dardai, Plattenhardt; Tousart, Sunjic, Darida; Lukebakio, Kanga, Richter

Hoffenheim possible starting lineup:

Baumann; Kabak, Vogt, Akpoguma; Kaderabek, Promel, Geiger, Baumgartner, Angelino; Rutter, Kramaric

We say: Hertha Berlin 1-1 Hoffenheim

Despite Hertha's availability issues, we can envisage them extending their unbeaten run on Sunday.

Hoffenheim are in better form overall, but Schwarz has made Hertha a much more resilient side, making a share of the spoils at the Olympiastadion seem the most likely outcome.

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