Borussia Dortmund, traditionally one of Bayern Munich’s main competitors for Bundesliga dominance, has struggled to meet expectations this season. Currently sitting in 6th place, they are three points behind the top four and a considerable 12 points away from the league leaders.
While they have gone unbeaten in their last three Bundesliga matches, including a 4-0 victory over Freiburg and draws against Bayern Munich and Borussia Mönchengladbach, Dortmund has been inconsistent, particularly in away games. The team is preparing to face Barcelona in the Champions League this week.
On the other hand, Hoffenheim, who qualified for European competitions last season, is having a much tougher time this year. With just 13 points from 15 matches, they are 14th in the league, only three points above the relegation zone.
After losses to Mainz (2-0) and Wolfsburg (3-0) in the German Cup, Hoffenheim managed a 1-1 draw against Freiburg last week. They are also set to face FCSB in the Europa League this week.
Dortmund will be without winger Adeyemi, who has been sidelined for some time, along with other key players like Sané and defender Anton. There are also concerns about Süle and striker Beier, both of whom are recovering from injuries.
Despite these setbacks, key performers for Dortmund this season include winger Gittens, with four goals in both the Bundesliga and Champions League, and former Rennes forward Guirassy, who has scored six goals and provided one assist in the Bundesliga and added four goals in the Champions League.
Hoffenheim will miss defenders Kabak and Lenz, midfielder Becker, and forwards Bebou and Promel due to injuries. However, Kramaric remains a significant threat for them, having scored five goals this season.
Prediction
Dortmund 2-0 Hoffenheim. Dortmund has been strong at home, winning eight of their last nine matches at Signal Iduna Park. In contrast, Hoffenheim’s poor away form suggests they will struggle in this encounter.
