Hoffenheim vs Union Berlin preview: Crucial bottom half clash in Sinsheim | OneFootball

Hoffenheim

Hoffenheim's last outing ended in a 3-1 defeat against Bayer Leverkusen on February 2. Despite generating an impressive 2.26 xG compared to Leverkusen’s 1.4, they only became a real attacking threat after the reigning champions were reduced to 10 men in the 61st minute, by which time Hoffenheim were already trailing 3-0.

This season has been a stark contrast to their impressive 2023-24 campaign, where they finished seventh with 46 points and qualified for the Europa League. As things stand, they are projected to collect just 31 points this term, a significant downturn in performance.

However, head coach Christian Ilzer can take solace in his team’s recent attacking improvements, with Hoffenheim scoring 12 goals in their last five matches, more than in their previous 16 combined. They have also won two of their past five games across all competitions, equaling the number of victories from their prior 14 fixtures. Still, their defensive vulnerabilities remain evident, highlighted by a 2-1 defeat to Union in September.

At home, Hoffenheim have struggled considerably, failing to win in their last six matches and losing three of their previous four while conceding eight goals in that stretch.

Team News

Hoffenheim continue to grapple with injuries, though defenders Christopher Lenz and Valentin Gendrey are expected to return later in the month. Goalkeeper Luca Philipp is likely to start in place of the injured Oliver Baumann, with Arthur Chaves and Kevin Akpoguma potentially forming the central defensive duo.

Midfield dynamo Anton Stach remains sidelined until early March, joining Grischa Prömel, Umut Tohumcu, and Diadie Samassekou on the injury list. Consequently, Dennis Geiger and Finn Ole Becker could start together in midfield. Up front, Erencan Yardimci may retain his spot after being preferred over Gift Orban in the last match.

Union Berlin

Union Berlin were perhaps unlucky not to claim victory against Leipzig, as they limited their opponents to just one shot on target inside the box while accumulating 1.27 xG themselves, more than four times Leipzig’s tally of 0.27.

Despite their solid defensive showing, manager Steffen Baumgart will be concerned about Union’s lack of cutting edge in attack. They have only scored twice in their last five games, failing to find the net in four of those encounters. Defensive frailties have also emerged, with Union conceding 16 goals in their past eight outings after keeping three clean sheets in their first four matches of the season.

On a positive note, Union have taken four points from their last three Bundesliga matches. However, their away form remains dismal, having lost their last six league fixtures on the road while failing to score in four of them. Overall, they have secured just two wins in their last 26 Bundesliga away games, drawing six and losing 18.

Team News

For Union, Frederik Rønnow is expected to start in goal, shielded by a back four of Josip Juranovic, Danilho Doekhi, Diogo Leite, and Robert Skov, particularly with Kevin Vogt still nursing a knee injury.

Aljoscha Kemlein is projected to return later this month, meaning Janik Haberer and Rani Khedira could continue as the central midfield pairing. In attack, Ivan Prtajin may lead the line, supported by Andras Schäfer, especially with Andrej Ilic still recovering from an ankle injury.