Hoffenheim-Cologne is a match of the 21st day of Bundesliga and is played on Sunday at 5:30pm: live TV, probable formations, predictions.
After getting six wins in the first nine days of the league, Hoffenheim has managed to get the better of Bochum (3-1) exclusively since November, losing the chance to stay attached to the train leading to Europe. In fact, seventh place, which could be worth Conference League qualification at the end of the season, is still within reach for the Sinsheim club, momentarily eighth in the standings, 2 points behind Freiburg and -5 behind Eintracht Frankfurt.
A week ago, Pellegrino Matarazzo’s white-and-whites did not suffice to go two ahead at home to Wolfsburg (2-2) to break their fast of success: Niko Kovac’s team answered blow after blow, and Hoffenheim had to settle for a second consecutive draw after a 1-1 draw with freshman Heidenheim. Among the main reasons for the poor continuity of performance is a defense that is too permeable: the last clean sheet was last September and so far it is also the only one in the league. To raise the bar and aim for Europe, in short, more effort will have to be made.
Trying to throw their hearts over the hurdle is Cologne, entangled in the fight not to relegate. Some signs of awakening, however, the Billy Goats have indeed given it in recent outings, proving that the exoneration of former coach Steffen Baumgart was perhaps necessary.
With Timo Schultz at the helm, the red-and-whites have made small steps forward, taking only one defeat in the last four days (against Borussia Dortmund). Last Saturday, however, Kainz and his teammates returned to winning ways, taking the illustrious scalp of Eintracht Frankfurt (2-0) and moving within three lengths of the fourth-last, Union Berlin. Schultz seems to have found a way to turn around an attack that remains the least prolific in the Bundesliga, with just 14 scored in 20 games. Too few.
The prediction
Three away wins in the last four confrontations, with Cologne only once managing to get the better of Hoffenheim since 2017. The guests, reinvigorated by their success with Eintracht Frankfurt, should score at least one goal in Sinsheim, taking advantage of the far-from-tight defense of Matarazzo’s team.
The likely Hoffenheim-Cologne lineups
HOFFENHEIM (3-4-1-2): Baumann; Kabak, Grillitsch, Nsoki; Kadeřábek, Stach, Prömel, Bülter; Kramarić; Weghorst, Beier.
COLONIA (4-2-3-1): Schwäbe; Schmitz, Hübers, Chabot, Finkgräfe; Huseinbašić, Martel; Ljubicic, Kainz, Alidou; Thielmann.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-1
