RB Leipzig vs. Hoffenheim: probable line-ups, match stats and LIVE blog!

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Leipzig's European adventure continued in midweek, with a 1-1 draw against Atalanta in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Europa League and they're well set in their bid to secure European football for next season, too. Die Roten Bullen boast a three point jump on the chasing pack that includes a Hoffenheim side in sixth that will be seven points adrift of their hosts if defeated. And those hosts have been soaring since Domenico Tedesco took over, with Nkunku propelling their flight. As proven in the 4-1 mauling of Borussia Dortmund last weekend, when Nkunku's two assists and a goal, paired with Konrad Laimer's Man of the Macthday performance of two goals and a provision of his own, reaffirmed Leipzig's considerable improvement. Benjamin Henrichs missed the win over Dortmund and, now back fit, will go up against Lukas Klostermann and Nordi Mukiele for a starting berth on the right. Tyler Adams and Yussuf Poulsen both remain doubts, while Amadou Haidara is out for the foreseeable.

Should Hoffenheim leave with all three points, they will be just a point off Leipzig and firmly in the picture for a top-four spot. And they have their own tactical mastermind to thank for what has been a stunning season thus far. Sebastian Hoeneß's side won four on the spin and took a point of his old club Bayern Munich on Matchday 26 to make things looking rosy at the PreZero Arena. Back-to-back defeats, however, brought TSG back down to earth, with Hertha Berlin and Bochum the two teams that inflicted those losses. Bookings to Kevin Akpoguma, David Raum and Kevin Vogt against the latter last time out have all led to suspensions and force Hoeneß's hand into changes. Stefan Posch and Chris Richards are fit and should come into the back-three, with Jacob Bruun Larsen likely to operate on the left due to Marco John's injury in training. Pavel Kaderabek is expected to start from the right.

Match stats

Nkunku is the only player so far this Bundesliga season to reach double figures for goals (16) and assists (11).

Dani Olmo has three goals and three assists in his last six Bundesliga appearances.

Leipzig are the team of the Rückrunde, with 26 points from a possible 33. That's two more than leaders Bayern Munich.

Hoffenheim's seven-goal top scorer Ihlas Bebou hasn't found the net in nine appearances dating back to the Matchday 18 win over Augsburg.

Heading into Matchday 29, Raum is the Bundesliga's best in terms of crosses from open play (162) and sprints made (890). He's also top dog at Hoffenheim for challenges won (256).

Hoffenheim are averaging 1.51 points per game under Hoeneß, who has overseen 75 matches in all competitions. For reference, Julian Nagelsmann averaged 1.53 points over 136 games at the TSG helm.

Probable line-ups

Leipzig: Gulacsi (c) - Simakan, Orban, Gvardiol - Klostermann, Laimer, Kampl, Angelino - Olmo - Silva, Nkunku

Out: Haidara (knee)

Doubtful: -

Coach: Domenico Tedesco

Hoffenheim: Baumann (c) - Posch, Nordtveit, Richards - Kaderabek, Samassekou, Stiller, Bruun Larsen - Baumgartner - Bebou, Kramaric

Out: Akpoguma (suspended), Bicakcic (knee), Geiger (not included), Grillitsch (muscular), John (shoulder), Hübner (back), Raum (suspended), Rudy (not included), Vogt (suspended)

Doubtful: -

Coach: Sebastian Hoeneß

About the clubs TSG Hoffenheim

PreZero Arena

RB Leipzig

Red Bull Arena

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