Hoffenheim vs Mainz Preview: Team News & Prediction
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Hoffenheim are in the hunt for a top four finish and UEFA Champions League as they now take on mid-table Augsburg in Baden-Wurttemberg this week.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / US – ESPN
How to watch online: UK – Cannot be streamed / US – ESPN+
Hoffenheim preview: Top four contenders
Hoffenheim come into this one on the back of a 5-0 annihilation at the hands of RB Leipzig at the Red Bull Arena in their most recent outing a couple of weeks ago before the March international break.
The home team have managed just one victory in their last five matches in the Bundesliga as they now sit behind the aforementioned Leipzig on goal difference as they head into the run-in and the final seven games of the season.
Mainz preview: Mid-table Mainz
They now face a Mainz team that are in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Europa Conference League and can focus on that after steering themselves clear of relegation trouble with the appointment of Urs Fischer.
After a woeful opening couple of months to this season, Mainz have turned things around with a 2-1 win against Eintracht Frankfurt a fortnight ago meaning that they have suffered just two defeats in their last 14 matches across all competitions.
Hoffenheim team news: A few injuries
Hoffenheim have a fresh injury concern as Albian Hajdari may well be sidelined alongside fellow defenders Valentin Gendrey and Koki Machida. Leon Avdullahu is also sidelined with Czechia international attacker Adam Hlozek also a doubt.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Baumann; Coufal, Hranac, Kabak, Bernardo; Prass, Promel, Burger; Lemperle, Asllani, Toure
Unavailable: Gendrey (Injured), Machida (Injured), Avdullahu (Injured)
Questionable: Hajdari (Injured), Hlozek (Injured)
Mainz team news: Several injuries
Mainz are dealing with several injury issues for this one as defender Andreas Hanche-Olsen is potentially sidelined alongside Nadiem Amiri and Anthony Caci, with Benedict Hollerbach sidelined alongside Silas.
Predicted XI (3-5-2): Batz; Da Costa, Posch, Kohr; Widmer, Nebel, Sano, Lee, Mwene; Tietz, Becker
Unavailable: Hollerbach (Injured), Silas (Injured)
Questionable: Zentner (Injured), Dal (Injured), Hanche-Olsen (Injured), Bell (Injured), Amiri (Injured), Caci (Injured)
Hoffenheim vs Mainz prediction
Mainz have shown some fight and progress in the last few months and can now pour their energy into Europe, while maintaining steady form domestically. Hoffenheim, under former Sturm Graz boss Christian Ilzer, are out of form but should be confident of bouncing back here with both teams scoring seeming a good bet for this one.
Hoffenheim vs Mainz tip: Both teams to score
