Hoffenheim vs Augsburg Preview: Team News & Prediction
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In-form Hoffenheim know that three points here against Augsburg gives them a massive chance of climbing into the top six.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / US – ESPN
How to watch online: UK – Not televised / US – ESPN+
Hoffenheim preview: Silver lining
Hoffenheim’s winning run may have come to an end against Mainz most recently, but they remain unbeaten and right in the European mix. Their five-match streak of scoring three goals in each fixture was stopped, but they did take the lead and will have been frustrated not to hold out for the three points, with Mainz equalising with just over 15 minutes left.
The visitors have now racked up 16 points from the 18 available to them, with a defeat at the hands of St. Pauli in the DFB-Pokal the only negative point, underlining how good their form has been.
Augsburg preview: Priceless win
After a run of three consecutive Bundesliga defeats, Augsburg picked up a crucial victory over Hamburg last time out in what was an extremely entertaining encounter despite so much being at stake. Both teams saw the game as a great opportunity for three points and treated it so by deploying highly attacking playstyles.
In the end, it was Augsburg who won out, Anton Kade scoring with just under 15 minutes of normal time remaining before the defence held out to secure not only their third Bundesliga triumph of the season, but also their first clean sheet in the league.
Hoffenheim team news: Injured pair still out
Once again, Hoffenheim will have to make do without forward Adam Hlozek and centre-back Koki Machida, as neither have recovered from their respective injuries. Hlozek has a foot issue and Machida a knee problem.
Predicted XI: (4-3-3): Baumann; Coufal, Hranac, Hajdari, Bernardo; Avdullahu, Promel, Burger; Kramaric, Asllani, Toure
Unavailable: Hlozek (Injured), Machida (Injured)
Questionable:
Augsburg team news: Missing for different reasons
Augsburg are also set to have two of their players absent for this encounter, those being centre-back duo Jeffrey Gouweleeuw and Keven Schlotterback. The latter is suspended, whilst Augsburg captain Gouweleeuw has a knee injury.
Predicted XI: (3-4-3): Dahmen; Banks, Matsima, Zesiger; Kade, Fellhauer, Massengo, Giannoulis; Claude-Maurice, Komur, Rieder
Unavailable: Gouweleeuw (Injured), Schlotterbeck (Suspended)
Questionable:
Hoffenheim vs Augsburg prediction
Augsburg may have wished for less formidable opposition from an offensive standpoint following only their second shutout in all competitions this campaign. The side with the second-worst goals conceded record in the Bundesliga faces a hot Hoffenheim attack who are looking to take their frustrations at only netting once against Mainz out on Augsburg.
Being back at home should work very much in Hoffenheim’s favour and when you compare their frontline to Augsburg’s difficulties preventing their opponents from creating big chances over the course of a game, then you have to believe that Hoffenheim will gain plenty of opportunities to score here. Expect the hosts to take at least a couple of those chances and to go on and win this match.
Hoffenheim vs Augsburg tip: Hoffenheim to win
