Stuttgart's push for Champions League qualification continues on Sunday when they travel to PreZero Arena to take on Hoffenheim in their 23rd Bundesliga game of the campaign.
Hoffenheim are fourth last in 15th place with 21 points but managed to beat Werder Bremen 3-1 on February 16, while seventh-placed opponents Stuttgart were defeated 2-1 by Wolfsburg on February 15, though they are only four points behind fourth-placed Freiburg with a game in hand.
Match preview
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The hosts trailed 1-0 after seven minutes against Werder Bremen, but they scored twice from the edge of the box to take a 2-1 lead by half time, and their clinical display in front of goal saw them pick up their fifth win of their 2024-25 league season.
It should be noted that Hoffenheim have scored 15 goals in their past seven games, as many as they had netted in their prior 18 outings.
Die Kraichgauer are only one place above Heidenheim, who occupy the division's relegation playoff spot, but they boast a seven-point advantage over their relegation rivals.
Boss Christian Ilzer has led his side to three wins and one draw in their last seven, as well as two wins and one draw in his last five league games, with only two teams in the bottom nine picking up more points in that time.
However, Hoffenheim are winless in their seven most recent fixtures at home and have lost four of their past five at PreZero Arena.
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Stuttgart only created two big chances against Wolfsburg, and while they will be disappointed by their offensive performance, they will be frustrated that they squandered the one-goal lead they had taken in the 72nd minute.
The visitors have only kept one clean sheet in their last seven matches, conceding 12 goals and scoring nine in that period.
Die Roten were held to a 1-1 draw by Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga on October 6, a game in which they only rescued a point thanks to Ermedin Demirovic's 99th-minute equaliser, though they were fortunate that he scored the rebound from his missed penalty.
Manager Sebastian Hoeness has seen his side succumb to defeat in four of their past six outings – winning twice – and has overseen three defeats in his last four in the top flight.
Stuttgart's record on the road is strong, with the club having won five of their six most recent games away from home.
Team News
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Hoffenheim's squad is still hampered by injury issues, with midfielders Diadie Samassekou, Grischa Promel and Umut Tohumcu all ruled out, making Anton Stach and Finn Ole Becker the most likely duo to play in a double pivot.
Centre-backs Arthur Chaves and Leo Ostigard both started against Werder Bremen, and they will almost certainly be trusted to marshal their sides' defence on Sunday given Christopher Lenz, Ozan Kabak and Valentin Gendrey are injured.
In attack, Izler could select a forward line featuring Tom Bischof, Andrej Kramaric, Marius Bulter and Gift Orban considering Adam Hlozek and Ihlas Bebou will be unavailable.
As for Stuttgart, defenders Ameen Al Dakhil and Dan-Axel Zagadou are not scheduled to return to action until March and May respectively.
In their place, perhaps the visitors will start a defence consisting of Johsa Vagnoman, Julian Chabot, Ramon Hendriks and Maximilian Mittelstadt.
Striker El Bilal Toure could make his comeback from a broken ankle in late March, but expect Deniz Undav and Nick Woltemade to play together in the final third on Sunday.
Hoffenheim possible starting lineup:
Philipp; Kaderabek, Chaves, Ostigard, Prass; Stach, Becker; Bischof, Kramaric, Bulter; Orban
Stuttgart possible starting lineup:
Nubel; Vagnoman, Chabot, Hendriks, Mittelstadt; Leweling, Karazor, Stiller, Fuhrich; Undav, Woltemade
We say: Hoffenheim 2-1 Stuttgart
Hoffenheim have struggled at home this campaign, whereas Stuttgart have been excellent away from home.
The visitors' strong record on the road should make them favourites on Sunday, though it is hard to see them keeping a clean sheet given the volume of goals they have conceded recently.
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Lewis Nolan
