Hoffenheim will aim to improve their disappointing start to the Bundesliga season when they face Hamburger SV on Saturday at SNP Arena. Both teams are struggling, with Hoffenheim sitting 14th and Hamburger in 16th place, each having garnered just three points.
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Hoffenheim suffered a 3-1 defeat to newly-promoted Paderborn on September 20, and they have lost four of their last five Bundesliga matches. In those games, they allowed at least three goals on four occasions, with their only clean sheet this season coming in a DFB-Pokal match against Erzgebirge Aue on August 22. Although Hoffenheim has scored at least two goals in four of their six fixtures this season, they managed only one goal in their last two games. Their last home win was a 2-1 victory against Stuttgart on September 12.
Hamburger SV enters this match on the heels of a 2-1 win over FC Koln on September 19. However, they have struggled offensively in the league this season, scoring only two goals before the international break. Defensively, they have conceded 13 goals, matching the total they allowed in their last six league matches the previous season. Hamburg will seek to avoid a third consecutive defeat to Hoffenheim, who defeated them 4-1 in their last encounter.
In terms of team news, Hoffenheim has no confirmed absentees, but defenders Albian Hajdari and Bernardo are facing injury concerns. Their likely starting defense may include Vladimir Coufal, Ozan Kabak, Koki Machida, and Mats Rots. Up front, Tim Lemperle and Adam Hlozek are expected to lead the attack, with Hlozek currently tied as the team's top scorer this season with two goals.
Hamburger SV is battling significant injury issues. Striker Patson Daka is unavailable due to a hamstring injury, and attacker Albert Gronbaek faces several weeks out with a thigh issue. Yussuf Poulsen is likely to play as a center-forward, supported by Fabio Vieira and Otto Stange.
Possible starting lineups:
Hoffenheim: Baumann; Coufal, Kabak, Machida, Rots; Conte, Avdullahu, Burger, Daghim; Lemperle, Hlozek.
Hamburger SV: Fernandes; Bornauw, Torunarigha, Capaldo; El Ouahdi, Lokonga, Remberg, Wolfe; Vieira, Stange; Poulsen.
Given the defensive struggles of both teams, a high-scoring match is anticipated, and Hoffenheim may secure a 3-1 victory.