Hoffenheim vs Borussia Dortmund Preview: Team News & Prediction
by Alex Lawes ·
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Hoffenheim have been one of the most entertaining teams in the Bundesliga for some time now as they welcome Borussia Dortmund to the Baden-Wurttemberg.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / USA – ESPN
How to watch online: UK – Cannot be streamed / USA – ESPN+
Hoffenheim preview: Beaten but entertaining
Under the management of former Sturm Graz boss Christian Ilzer, Hoffenheim narrowly missed out on the top four and the UEFA Champions League last season but they are expected to be able to challenge once again this time around.
The home team, though, began their season with a 3-2 defeat to Cologne at the RheinEnergieStadion in a game in which Hoffenheim were 2-1 up before a late brace scored by Cologne’s summer signing Thijs Dallinga.
Borussia Dortmund preview: Solid start
Niko Kovac will be hoping he can help Borussia Dortmund show some consistency this season and genuinely challenge for the Bundesliga title alongside Bayern Munich – and they started the season well last week.
The Yellow-Blacks eased to a comfortable 2-0 victory at the Westfalenstadion against Hamburg with goals scored by Serhou Guirassy and Giannis Konstantelias before Samule Inacio was sent off late on.
Hoffenheim team news: Asllani a doubt
Key man Fisnik Asllani succumbed to injury last week and is now a doubt for this one as Austria international wing-back Alexander Prass works his way back to full fitness, too.
Predicted XI (4-4-2): Baumann; Coufal, Kabak, Hajdari, Bernardo; Wimmer, Avdullahu, Burger, Daghim; Conte, Hlozek
Unavailable:
Questionable: Prass (Fitness), Asllani (Injured)
Borussia Dortmund team news: Konstantelias out
Following his controversial move from PAOK this summer, Giannis Konstantelias was impressive on debut against Bayern before scoring last week but then suffering an ACL injury in the second half.
Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Kobel; Gadou, Anton, Svensson; Ryerson, Bellingham, Nmecha, Beier; Karetsas, Nwaneri; Guirassy
Unavailable: Inacio (Suspended), Schlotterbeck (Injured), Bensebaini (Injured), Justin Lerma (Injured), Konstantelias (Injured), Kaba (Injured)
Questionable:
Hoffenheim vs Borussia Dortmund prediction
With home advantage, Hoffenheim will seek to tap into their naturally proactive and entertaining style to try and get at the often frustratingly weak Dortmund. However, Dortmund did show a good level of control to ease to their opening day win against Hamburg and so they may not be too fallible here. In fact, siding with Kovac’s side would appear the way to go for this one as Hoffenheim look set to prolong their average form that they finished last season in.
Hoffenheim vs Borussia Dortmund tip: Double chance – Borussia Dortmund to win or draw
