Matchday in focus: Hoffenheim

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Eintracht Frankfurt

·29 agosto 2025

Matchday in focus: Hoffenheim

With new faces, a “new identity” and a newcomer who’s been given a second chance, there’s a sense of optimism at TSG Hoffenheim.

Tactics

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Hoffenheim have made an impressive start to the new season, dispatching Hansa Rostock 4-0 in the first round of the DFB Cup before winning 2-1 at Bayer Leverkusen in their Bundesliga opener. Head coach Christian Ilzer has named the same starting line-up both times, featuring a total of seven new players compared to last season’s squad.

Tactically, TSG vary between a 4-2-3-1 formation and a compact 4-4-2. Eintracht boss Dino Toppmöller spoke of a “new identity” for the upcoming opponents in light of the increased intensity and stability in their performances.

Absentees

Ilzer will be forced into at least two changes from the starting line-up on Matchday 1 as summer signings Wouter Burger and Kiko Machida are both ruled out by injury. Adam Hlozek, Valentin Gendrey and Ozan Kabak are long-term casualties.

For Frankfurt, the trip to Sinsheim comes too soon for goalkeeper Kaua Santos. The same goes for Jessic Ngankam. A decision will be made on Ellyes Skhiri’s availability following the final training session on Friday.

One to watch: Fisnik Asllani

Fisnik Asllani began his football career in the Union Berlin academy before moving to Hoffenheim in 2020. He initially featured for the reserve team and made his Bundesliga debut in November 2021. In summer 2023, the German-born Kosovo international joined Austria Wien on loan and then spent the following campaign on loan at SV Elversberg. Under coach Horst Steffen, he made his breakthrough with the Saarland club, registering 27 goal involvements – the second most in Bundesliga 2.

Fisnik Asllani …

… comes from Berlin and joined TSG from Union in 2020.
… represented Kosovo at U17 level and then played for the German U19 and U20 teams.
… named his father as one of the most important people on his path to becoming a professional: “When the whole world didn’t believe in me and I didn’t even believe in myself, my father believed in me,” he once said.
… has played for Kosovo at senior level since 2024 and made his debut in the UEFA Nations League against Romania.

Top stat

Eintracht won possession high up the pitch 14 times on Matchday 1 – the most in the league by some distance.

Reunions

Sporting director Timmo Hardung and head of first-team football Pirmin Schwegler both previously worked for Hoffenheim.

Elias Baum and Asllani played together at Elversberg last season.

Mergim Berisha and Jonathan Burkardt have lined up together for the German U21 side, as have Tim Lemperle, Ansgar Knauff and Nathaniel Brown.