Hoffenheim-Borussia Dortmund is a Bundesliga match of the 22nd day and is played on Saturday at 15:30: TV, line-ups, predictions
The break for the World Cup was a real boon for Borussia Dortmund. When the Bundesliga resumed in mid-January, the Gialloneri were in an uninspiring sixth place and the summit seemed unreachable.
One month later the situation was almost completely reversed, thanks to the eight consecutive victories achieved by Edin Terzic’s men between cups and the league. In that time there is no team in Germany that has done better than Reus and Co., who last weekend even closed the gap on Bayern Munich to 43 points. The top of the table is currently shared by three – Union Berlin keeps Bayern and Borussia company – and it has been a few seasons since we have witnessed such an open and uncertain tournament, although the reigning champions remain favourites for the title. In these rounds, Borussia Dortmund have a great chance: that of remaining alone in first place for more than twenty-four hours, while waiting for Bayern and Union to take points off each other on Sunday.
Hoffenheim in black crisis
Only victories, we said, from a month ago for Terzic’s gang. The latest came at Signal Iduna Park against a frail Hertha Berlin, who were swept aside 4-1. That success followed a 1-0 win at Chelsea in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16, which will allow Dortmund to travel to London with a not inconsiderable advantage.
Dolberg
Borussia can extend their streak at home to a Hoffenheim side who are the worst Bundesliga team in 2023. The Sinsheim outfit have exclusively collected almost defeats and their only point came from a home draw with Stuttgart in the midweek round on 24 January. The change in the bench did not bear the desired fruit. The ‘cure’ Matarazzo is not working so far: the American coach has suffered two defeats in as many matches against Bayer Leverkusen and Augsburg.
The Prediction
Borussia Dortmund’s victory should not be in question in a match in which two teams practically at opposite ends of the table face each other. The Gialloneri are likely to score between two and four goals in the away match in Sinsheim.
The likely line-up for Hoffenheim-Borussia Dortmund
- HOFFENHEIM (3-4-1-2): Baumann; Kabak, Bicakcic, Brooks; Kaderabek, Geiger, Delaney, Angelino; Baumgartner; Bebou, Kramaric.
- BORUSSIA DORTMUND (4-2-3-1): Kobel; Ryerson, Süle, Schlotterbeck, Guerreiro; Emre Can, Bellingham; Brandt, Reus, Bynoe-Gittens; Haller.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-3
