Can Dortmund Build on Mid-Week Win?
CosminIftode / Shutterstock.com
The final Bundesliga fixture of Saturday afternoon sees Borussia Dortmund welcome Hoffenheim to Signal Iduna Park.
This is a hugely important game in terms of the top four and Champions League qualification this season. The hosts, Borussia Dortmund were looking capable of a title challenge early in the campaign but a string of poor results has seen them lose their manager and drop down the table to sixth place.
Hoffenheim travel to Dortmund having reached the Champions League playoff round this season and will be aiming to go one better by qualifying automatically for the group stage next season. A win in this match could potentially move them up to second in the table.
Borussia Dortmund come into this game with the opportunity to make it back-to-back wins in the Bundesliga, something they have not achieved since the end of September. A dismal run of form which saw them win just one of their thirteen competitive games in all competitions between the 14th October and 9th December was enough to see Peter Bosz lose his job.
Former Koln manager Peter Stoger has come in and got off to the best possible start thanks to a 2-0 win at Mainz.
Despite their poor recent form, Borussia Dortmund are still strong at home and trends show they have lost only three of their twenty home league matches. However, they have been defeated in five of their last seven at home in all competitions and Stoger will want to get back to winning ways in-front of the home fans.
Both teams have scored in each of Borussia Dortmund’s last eight home games in all competitions.
Hoffenheim are enjoying another good season under the guidance of Julian Nagelsmann but their form of late has been a little hit and miss in the Bundesliga. There have been two wins and two defeats in their last four games, with both wins coming at home and both defeats away.
It’s Hoffenheim’s away form which will be of concern going into this match and trends show they have won only one of their previous five away games in the Bundesliga. In addition, Hoffenheim have won only one of their last nine away matches in all competitions.
Much like their opponents, Hoffenheim have proven to be an entertaining team to watch and both teams have scored in seventeen of their last twenty-two away matches in all competitions.
Team news and Borussia Dortmund still have a long injury list, with key players including Marco Reus, Erik Durm, Lukasz Piszczek, Sebastian Rode, Gonzalo Castro, Mario Gotze and Maximillian Philipp on the treatment table.
Hoffenheim have doubts over Sandro Wagner and Philipp Ochs but both will be hoping to recover in time for kick-off. Adam Szalai is suspended.
We are set for a potentially very exciting game at Signal Iduna Park on Saturday and both teams will come into the match looking to score goals. Expect to see both find the back of the net in what should be an evenly matched contest that could easily end in a draw.
Home
Football 
Basketball
Hockey
American Football
Baseball
Rugby
Volleyball
Handball
Esoccer
