Borussia Dortmund visit Hoffenheim as they look to bolster their Bundesliga title charge on Friday following their thrilling 3-3 draw with league leaders RB Leipzig last time out.
Dortmund are fourth in the league standings and just four points off the top of the table, and a trip to ninth-placed Hoffenheim is their next obstacle.
Match preview
© ReutersHoffenheim have begun to fade after a five-game winning run between October and November, with their 2-0 win over Union Berlin last time out putting an end to a streak of four matches without victory.
That winless run included one draw and three defeats, conceding a total of 12 times across the three losses, despite scoring four of their own in that run.
It has contributed to a poor defensive record, with their tally of 27 goals shipped in 16 games the worst of any side in the top half of the table.
Hoffenheim will not, then, relish the prospect of hosting Dortmund, who are the third-highest scorers in the division with 40 goals so far.
Dortmund have navigated a sluggish start to the season and are now unbeaten in five league games, losing just once in their last 13 in the competition.
However, Lucien Favre's side have drawn far too many for their liking, being held six times this season, and are four points off the pace set by Leipzig and Borussia Monchengladbach.
Dortmund have also, like Hoffenheim, disappointed defensively, with the joint-second worst defensive record in the top half of the Bundesliga standings.
In fact, they have conceded three or more goals in three of their last six games, which resulted in two draws and a loss, while shipping a total of just one in the other three fixtures in that run and winning each of those.
Hoffenheim Bundesliga form: WLDLLW
Borussia Dortmund Bundesliga form: LDWWWD
Borussia Dortmund form (all competitions): LWWWWD
Team News
© ReutersHoffenheim head coach Alfred Schreuder has a handful of doubtful players ahead of Dortmund's visit.
Philipp Ochs and Steven Zuber are doubts, while Ishak Belfodil is expected to be out.
Dortmund boss Favre, on the other hand, is definitely without a trio of key players, with another major doubt.
Axel Witsel, Marcel Schmelzer and Thomas Delaney are all out until at least next month with various injuries and will definitely not feature.
Meanwhile, young star Jadon Sancho picked up an injury against Leipzig and is a doubt for this one.
Hoffenheim possible starting lineup:
Baumann; Kaderabek, Posch, Hubner, Skov; Samassekou, Grillitsch; Bebou, Rudy, Adamyan; Kramaric
Borussia Dortmund possible starting lineup:
Burki; Akanji, Hummels, Zagadou; Hakimi, Weigl, Brandt, Guerreiro; Hazard, Alcacer, Reus
We say: Hoffenheim 1-3 Borussia Dortmund
There should be plenty of goals in this one given that both sides are somewhat underwhelming at the back, but Dortmund should have too much for a side who are in poor form.
