Matchday in focus: Record-breaking Hoffenheim

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Eintracht Frankfurt

·20 October 2023

Matchday in focus: Record-breaking Hoffenheim

TSG have made their best start to a Bundesliga season in their history, thanks in part to a tried-and-tested system and a goal-hungry youngster.

Tactics

Hoffenheim have won five of their opening seven league matches this season – their best start to a Bundesliga campaign in the club’s history. Head coach Pellegrino Matarazzo usually sets his side up in a 3-5-2 formation.

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Absentees

Hoffenheim may have to make do without Andrej Kramaric, Ozan Kabak, Stanley Nsoki, Marco John, Kevin Vogt and Dennis Geiger, all of whom are struggling with knocks.

As for Eintracht, captain Sebastian Rode, Simon Simoni and Mehdi Loune are all out injured, while Kevin Trapp (back problems) and Kristijan Jakic (knee issue) are doubts.

One to watch: Maximilian Beier

Maximilian Beier is one of the emerging talents of the 2023/24 campaign. The 21-year-old striker, who stands at 1.85 metres tall, has scored five goals in seven Bundesliga appearances this season and has also caught the eye with his pace, agility and dribbling skills.
Beier joined Hoffenheim as a 15-year-old from the Energie Cottbus youth academy. He rose through the ranks in Sinsheim before joining Hannover 96 on a two-year loan deal in 2021.
On 10 December 2020, the 18-year-old Beier registered two goals and an assist for Hoffenheim against KAA Gent in the UEFA Europa League.
After being called up by Germany U21s for the first time in September 2023, he netted on his debut in a 2-0 friendly victory against Ukraine.
Beier’s five Bundesliga goals make him Hoffenheim’s leading scorer in the top flight this season. Leroy Sané of Bayern Munich is the only German player in Europe’s top five leagues to have found the net more often (six times).

Key stats and runs

Eintracht currently boast the best defence in the league with just five goals conceded.

Hoffenheim have picked up more yellow cards (21) than any other team in the Bundesliga this term.

Nine different players have found the net for Hoffenheim this season, a joint league high.