Hoffenheim-Stuttgart is a Bundesliga match on matchday 17 and is played on Tuesday at 20:30: line-ups, predictions, TV and streaming.
On Saturday Hoffenheim were under the illusion they could take points away from the capital after leading for over seventy minutes at Union Berlin. In the final minutes, however, the defence of the Andre Breitenreiter-led team crumbled in the face of continuous attacks from the Berliners, who had already created several dangers in the first half.
Against Urs Fischer’s men it ended 3-1, a result that is in perfect continuity with those recorded last November. Since their October success against bottom-of-the-table Schalke 04, Hoffenheim have not won, suffering five defeats in their last six Bundesliga matches. Kramaric and his teammates do not seem equipped to make a comeback and get closer to the European zones, but the feeling is that they should be content with a quiet salvation. The dearth of victories does not even allow them to move away from the third-last place, which remains only three points away. And the risk of being sucked into the relegation battle is not yet averted.
Stuttgart, who would face a dangerous promotion-relegation play-off if the championship ended now, are not doing well either.
Labbadia
It follows that what will be staged in Sinsheim in this midweek round is a real salvation clash. To try and put things right on the Swabians’ bench during the break an experienced coach like Bruno Labbadia, who had already been in these parts from 2010 to 2013, has arrived. The debut of the former Bayern Munich player was positive. Stuttgart got off to a good start with a home draw against Mainz (1-1), although they now have to improve their away performance, where the red and whites have only won three points, the result of as many draws. Some progress was also seen in the possession phase, one of the main problems of Matarazzo’s management.
The prediction
A tight match looms between two teams who have been winless for a long time and cannot consider themselves completely at ease. Hoffenheim, in spite of their defeat in the last round in Berlin against Union, have shown signs of recovery and should be able to avoid defeat. A draw would not be a surprise.
Hoffenheim v Stuttgart likely line-up
- HOFFENHEIM (3-4-1-2): Baumann; Kaderabek, Vogt, Nsoki; Skov, Geiger, Stiller, Angelino; Baumgartner; Bebou, Kramaric.
- STOCCARDA (4-3-3): Müller; Anton, Mavropanos, Ito, Nartey; Ahamada, Karazor, Endo; Silas, Guirassy, Tomas.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-1
