Preview: Hoffenheim vs. FC Koln - prediction, team news, lineups

The visitors, meanwhile, secured only their third win in the Bundesliga all season when defeating Eintracht Frankfurt last time out.

Match preview

Hoffenheim have found wins extremely hard to come by themselves in recent months, with Pellegrino Matarazzo's side prevailing in just one of their last 11 league matches. As a result, they could find themselves in the bottom half of the table before hosting Koln on Sunday, should results go against them on Saturday.

Die Kraichgauer twice squandered a lead away to Wolfsburg last weekend, with Maximilian Beier and Grischa Promel striking in either half at the Volskwagen Arena. However, Lovro Majer's brace ensured that the two sides shared the spoils, remaining three points apart in the table in the process.

It was the 14th time in Hoffenheim's last 15 league matches that both teams found the back of the net, with their 3-0 defeat to Bayern Munich the only time this did not occur during that run. Matarazzo's side have now conceded two or more goals in nine of their 11 away games, suggesting they must tighten up at the back if they are to move into the European qualification spots.

They may be relieved to be facing the joint-lowest scorers in the Bundesliga so far this season when Koln arrive into Baden-Wurttemberg, but with their opponents fighting against relegation, Matarazzo and his players certainly won't be expecting an easy game.

Indeed, Koln have shown signs of recovery since returning from the winter break, having replaced Steffen Baumgart with Timo Schultz as their manager at the beginning of January.

The Billy Goats drew against Heidenheim and Wolfsburg either side of a heavy defeat at home to Borussia Dortmund, but they finally earned their first win under their new boss when beating Frankfurt last weekend, moving three points clear of Mainz 05 inside the automatic relegation zone in the process.

The match appeared to be heading towards a stalemate until Niels Nkounkou was dismissed for a second bookable offence in the second half, with Faride Alidou almost immediately marking his side's numerical advantage by firing them into the lead. Jan Thielmann's strike all but sealed his side's victory 10 minutes from the end of normal time, with Tuta also seeing red late on.

Schultz and his players will be acutely aware that they have a lot work on their hands if they are to avoid dropping into the second tier at the end of the campaign, but on current form they appear to have enough to avoid finishing in the bottom two positions at least.

Hoffenheim Bundesliga form:

L

D

L

L

D

D

FC Koln Bundesliga form:

L

L

D

L

D

W

Team News

Hoffenheim will be without John Brooks, who received his fifth caution of the season and must serve a one-match suspension as a result. Kevin Akpoguma is likely to replace him at the back alongside former Liverpool defender Ozan Kabak, with Florian Grillitsch returning from his own suspension to start in midfield.

Finn Becker, Mergim Berisha and Marco John are expected to remain sidelined by serious knee injuries, while Dennis Geiger is still at least a week away from returning from his groin issue. The likes of Robert Skov, Marius Bulter and Ihlas Bebou will all be hoping for starts after coming off the bench against Wolfsburg.

Koln, meanwhile, will remain without Philipp Pentke, Davie Selke, Luca Waldschmidt and Mark Uth due to injuries. They may also have to replace Alidou, who was replaced after scoring the opener against Frankfurt due to a muscle strain.

Sargis Adamyan replaced him after 73 minutes and would likely do so from the outset on Sunday should Alidou be ruled out as expected, with Thielmann continuing to deputise in an unfamiliar central striking role.

Hoffenheim possible starting lineup:

Baumann; Kaderabek, Kabak, Akpoguma, Nsoki; Stach, Grillitsch, Promel; Kramaric; Weghorst, Beier

FC Koln possible starting lineup:

Schwabe; Schmitz, Hubers, Chabot, Finkgrafe; Martel, Huseinbasic; Adamyan, Kainz, Ljubicic; Thielmann

We say: Hoffenheim 1-1 FC Koln

As already mentioned, Hoffenheim tend to score and concede in almost every match they take part in, and we do not expect any different on Sunday.

The visitors should be confident after returning to winning ways last weekend, and they could move out of the bottom three with a victory here. However, we can envisage the two sides playing out a score draw.

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