Best Odds: 19/20
Bookmaker:
Hoping to make it three Bundesliga victories on the bounce this weekend, Borussia Dortmund will travel to a high-flying Hoffenheim on Friday night.
Hoffenheim
Starting with the hosts, while Hoffenheim might have been left disappointed last season as they had to settle for a bottom-half finish, the Blues have come flying out of the traps this time around. Putting in another hugely impressive performance last weekend as they claimed a 2-0 victory away at Champions League outfit Union Berlin, Pellegrino Matarazzo’s side have continued to gain a string of recent plaudits. Marking their return from September’s international break with a 3-1 romp away at Koln, the Sinsheim-based outfit now have their sights firmly set on mounting a genuine European charge. In fact, heading into the fortnight interval with another 3-1 win against Wolfsburg earlier in the month, Hoffenheim have now won each of their previous four Bundesliga appearances. Likewise, catching the eye with their clinical performances in the final third, it is worth highlighting that Matarazzo’s men have notched 11 strikes on their four-match winning run.
Team News
Dealing with a long-term muscle injury and still waiting to make a first Bundesliga appearance of the season, Hoffenheim will once again be without 25-year-old Dennis Geiger here. Likewise, the Blues are still sweating over the fitness of one-time PSG starlet Stanley Nsoki on Friday night.
Once again finding the net against Union Berlin last time out and notching four strikes in as many appearances for club and country, Croatian international Andrej Kramaric will spearhead Matarazzo’s attack here.
Borussia Dortmund
As for the visitors, suffering major Bundesliga title heartbreak last season following their infamous late collapse, many were wondering if Borussia Dortmund would show any signs of a hangover this time around. Although the German giants might have been last seen claiming a gritty 1-0 victory at home against Wolfsburg, it is fair to say that Edin Terzic’s side are seeking some recent stability. Opening their Champions League adventure with a 2-0 loss away at French heavyweight PSG last week, the one-time West Ham coach has seen his side muster just a pair of wins from their previous five appearances across all competitions. However, marking their return from September’s international break with an action-packed 4-2 win against Freiburg, BVB should be excited by an eye-catching record against Friday’s hosts. Including a 1-0 victory when they last travelled to the PreZero Arena on February 25th, Dortmund have won each of their last four meetings by an aggregate score of 8-4.
Team News
Picking up a groin strain against PSG last week, Borussia Dortmund are once again expected to be without former Bayern Munich midfielder Marcel Sabitzer here. Likewise, still yet to make a single appearance since opening the new campaign, Belgium international Thomas Meunier remains on the sidelines.
Still yet to open his Bundesliga account since making the move from Werder Bremen this summer, Niclas Fullkrug could be replaced in the final third by ex-West Ham striker Sebastian Haller. One-time Manchester City starlet Felix Nmecha should once again partner Salih Ozcan in the middle of the park.
Key Factors to Consider
