Hoffenheim Need Victory to Guarantee Champions League Place
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The final round of Bundesliga matches takes place this weekend as teams battle for position in the table.
One of the most intriguing games sees Hoffenheim welcome Borussia Dortmund to the WIRSOL Rhein Neckar Arena. Both clubs currently occupy a Champions League place but it’s the hosts who are in the biggest danger of missing out.
If Hoffenheim fail to take maximum points from this difficult looking game and Bayer Leverkusen win their match, it will be the latter which takes the final Champions League spot. So, there is all to play for in the Bundesliga on Saturday afternoon.
Hoffenheim’s nine match unbeaten run came to an end at just the wrong time last weekend as they went down 2-0 at neighbours Stuttgart. This was a disappointing result and leaves Julian Nagelsmann and his players with work to do in order to qualify for the Champions League.
Prior to the loss at Stuttgart, Hoffenheim had been on a great charge to secure a top four place and won six and drew three of their nine Bundesliga games. At home, Hoffenheim have won five and drawn one of their last six Bundesliga matches.
Trends show they have excelled both in attack and defence in recent home games. Hoffenheim have won by 2 or more goals their last four home Bundesliga games in a row and kept three clean sheets in the process.
Borussia Dortmund came into this match having lost 2-1 at home to Mainz last weekend. That result secured the future of Mainz in the Bundesliga but has left Borussia Dortmund needing a point to guarantee a place in the group stages of the Champions League next season.
Borussia Dortmund’s form has been very inconsistent and they have won two, lost two and drawn one of their last five Bundesliga matches. However, trends show Borussia Dortmund have lost only three of their last eighteen league games this season and have avoided defeat in seven of their last nine away Bundesliga games.
However, wins have been difficult to come by on the road for Borussia Dortmund and they have won just one of their last seven away matches in all competitions.
Team news and Hoffenheim will be without forward Serge Gnabry and midfielder Dennis Geiger, who are both injured. Defender Pavel Kaderabek returns from suspension but Kerim Demirbay remains a fitness doubt.
Borussia Dortmund travel without a whole host of players as Sebastian Rode, Erik Durm and Michy Batshuayi are injured plus defender Sokratis is suspended. Omer Toprak and Raphael Guerreiro are doubtful.
This is a tough match to call, with a great deal on the line. Borussia Dortmund are not easy to beat but struggle to win away from home while Hoffenheim are looking to build on their good home record following defeat last week. This match could easily end level, a result which will see Hoffenheim checking elsewhere for their top four hopes.
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