Preview: Hoffenheim vs. Borussia Dortmund - prediction, team news, lineups

Dortmund, meanwhile, moved level on points with Bayern Munich at the top of the Bundesliga with their sixth consecutive victory last weekend.

Match preview

Having become an established Bundesliga mainstay since their promotion from the second tier in 2008, Hoffenheim appear to be in serious jeopardy of being relegated from Germany's top flight for the first time in their history.

After gaining only two points from his final nine games in charge of the club, it was little surprise to see Andre Breitenreiter relieved from his position as head coach earlier this month. Despite sensationally winning the Swiss Super League with FC Zurich in his debut season, the 49-year-old could not translate his success to his new club.

However, his successor Pellegrino Matarazzo has so far struggled to provide an instant impact, losing both of his first two games in charge against Bayer Leverkusen and Augsburg. The latter defeat was a particularly crushing blow considering Fredrik Jensen's 88th-minute winner moved his side five points clear of Hoffenheim in the table.

As such, they head into Saturday's tough test against Dortmund outside of the bottom three on goal difference only, with their relegation rivals Stuttgart, VfL Bochum and Hertha Berlin all appearing to have more winnable matches on paper within the next few weeks.

Indeed, Dortmund are undoubtedly the form team in Germany at present, having won all eight of their matches in all competitions since returning to action after the World Cup.

Edin Terzic's side progressed to the DFB-Pokal quarter-finals with an edgy 2-1 win away to Bochum, while also asserting themselves as favourites to reach the last eight of the Champions League by beating Chelsea 1-0 at Westfalenstadion last week.

Relegation strugglers Hertha Berlin were beaten far more comfortably on Sunday, with goals from Karim Adeyemi, Donyell Malen, Marco Reus and Julian Brandt helping their side to a 4-1 victory on home territory.

BVB were provided a huge incentive to continue their winning run after Bayern had been beaten by Borussia Monchengladbach on the previous day, keeping them within three points at the summit. With the Bavarians facing Union Berlin - who also moved onto 43 points with a 0-0 draw against Schalke 04 - on Sunday, there is a real chance for Terzic's side to assert their authority as they look to end their hunt for a first league title in more than a decade.

Hoffenheim Bundesliga form:

L

D

L

L

L

L

Hoffenheim form (all competitions):

D

L

L

L

L

L

Borussia Dortmund Bundesliga form:

W

W

W

W

W

W

Borussia Dortmund form (all competitions):

W

W

W

W

W

W

Team News

Hoffenheim will remain without Jacob Bruun Larsen, Grischa Promel and Robert Skov due to injury, while Kasper Dolberg and Kevin Vogt are both doubts after suffering muscle and head injuries respectively against Augsburg.

Die Kraichgauer's attacking talisman Andrej Kramaric will surely return to the starting XI after only appearing from the bench last time out, with Ermin Bicakcic likely to replace Vogt should the defender be ruled out as expected.

Dortmund, meanwhile, suffered a major blow when Adeyemi was substituted against Hertha due to a muscle strain. The forward scored the crucial opener in four of his side's last six matches, with his searing pace adding another dimension to BVB's attack.

Jamie Bynoe-Gittens could replace him on the left flank on Saturday, while Jude Bellingham, Niklas Sule, Sebastien Haller and Raphael Guerreiro will all expect to return to the visitors' starting XI after only appearing from the bench against Hertha.

Julien Duranville, Youssoufa Moukoko, Abdoulaye Kamara and Mateu Morey all remain sidelined for at least a few more weeks through injury.

Hoffenheim possible starting lineup:

Baumann; Kabak, Bicakcic, Brooks; Kaderabek, Geiger, Delaney, Angelino; Baumgartner; Bebou, Kramaric

Borussia Dortmund possible starting lineup:

Kobel; Ryerson, Sule, Schlotterbeck, Guerreiro; Can, Bellingham; Brandt, Reus, Bynoe-Gittens; Haller

We say: Hoffenheim 1-3 Borussia Dortmund

While the absence of Adeyemi could make Dortmund a less potent threat in transition, they will surely still possess enough firepower to swat aside a woefully out-of-sorts Hoffenheim side.

Saturday's meeting represents bottom versus top as far as the form table is concerned, with the visitors growing in belief that they can push Bayern all of the way for the league title this season.

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