Preview: Hoffenheim vs. Mainz 05 - prediction, team news, lineups

Prior to the international break, Hoffenheim drew 1-1 away to Augsburg, while Mainz were involved in a goalless stalemate at SV Darmstadt 98.

Match preview

Despite only collecting four points from their last four matches, Hoffenheim remained in sixth position in the table during the recent international break, which represents excellent progress having fought against relegation for most of last season.

Former Stuttgart boss Pellegrino Matarazzo lost each of his opening five games in charge after becoming Hoffenheim boss in February earlier this year, but five wins from their last 10 games of the campaign proved enough to move away from danger and finish in 12th position.

Four wins from their opening five matches this time around suggested that Hoffenheim are more likely to have European qualification on their mind than any relegation fears, and that has proved to be the case so far, with Matarazzo gaining a particularly satisfying victory against his former club last month.

However, they were left frustrated only to draw away to Augsburg last time out, with Ermedin Demirovic's strike cancelling out Wout Weghorst's opener. Die Kraichgauer will be determined to end a run of three successive home defeats when they host struggling Mainz on Sunday.

That said, since collecting only one point from their opening six games to sit bottom of the Bundesliga table, only the reigning champions Bayern Munich have defeated Mainz in their last five matches.

Their 0-0 draw away to newly promoted Darmstadt proved enough to move themselves outside of the automatic relegation places prior to the international break, with both teams struggling to generate many clear cut chances during a scrappy affair. Indeed, there were more yellow cards (six) brandished than shots on target (four), suggesting a point for each team was a fair outcome.

Mainz's poor start to the season came as something of a surprise considering that they had finished in the top half in both full seasons under Bo Svensson, but the Dane was relieved from his managerial duties after suffering a disappointing 3-0 defeat away to Hertha Berlin in the DFB-Pokal earlier this month. Former Huddersfield Town manager Jan Siewert is currently serving as the club's interim manager.

Die Nullfunfer's only league victory this season came via a shock 2-0 win against RB Leipzig, but three successive draws on the road shows that they should not be underestimated when they arrive at Rhein-Neckar-Arena this weekend.

Hoffenheim Bundesliga form:

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Hoffenheim form (all competitions):

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Mainz 05 Bundesliga form:

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Mainz 05 form (all competitions):

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Team News

Hoffenheim will remain without Mergim Berisha, Marco John and Dennis Geiger due to long-term injuries, while Robert Skov and Pavel Kaderabek are both unlikely to be rushed back from Achilles and knee issues respectively.

Croatia forward Andrej Kramaric should be fit enough to start after coming off the bench during his side's last two matches, with Finn Becker likely to make way for him.

Mainz, meanwhile, will travel without Joshua Guilavogui, Andreas Hanche-Olsen, Karim Onisiwo and Nelson Weiper due to injury, while Sepp van den Berg and Dominik Kohr are both suspended after each receiving their fifth cautions of the season against Darmstadt.

As such, Siewert will be desperate to have Stefan Bell available again after the defender's recent Achilles tendon injury, with Edmilson Fernandes almost certain to start within the visitors' back three.

Hoffenheim possible starting lineup:

Baumann; Kabak, Vogt, Akpoguma; Bebou, Promel, Stach, Bulter; Kramaric; Weghorst, Beier

Mainz 05 possible starting lineup:

Zentner; Fernandes, Bell, Leitsch; Da Costa, Barreiro, Krauss, Mwene; Gruda, Lee; Ajorque

We say: Hoffenheim 2-1 Mainz 05

Although Hoffenheim have lost four of their five home games in the Bundesliga this season, we expect Matarazzo's side to be relishing the prospect of facing depleted Mainz on Sunday.

The visitors have become tougher to beat in recent weeks, but their lack of a permanent manager and lack of numbers - particularly in defensive areas - means we can se them falling to a narrow defeat this weekend.

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