Hoffenheim will be looking to move themselves clear of the Bundesliga relegation zone when they welcome European-chasing Augsburg to Rhein-Neckar Arena on Saturday afternoon.
The two teams played out a goalless stalemate in the reverse fixture just over four months ago, but Die Kraichgauer did win a winter friendly 3-1 in January.
Match preview
© Imago
Hoffenheim boosted their hopes of survival by picking up eight points across a four-match unbeaten run (W2 D2) between mid-February and early March, but they suffered defeat in their final fixture before the international break, losing 1-0 away against fellow relegation-threatened St Pauli.
Die Kraichgauer failed to register a single shot on target throughout the 90 minutes and a 51st-minute strike from St Pauli's Noah Weisshaupt was enough to condemn Christian Ilzer's men to their 12th league loss of the campaign.
Hoffenheim have only won six Bundesliga games so far this season; they have only recorded fewer wins after 26 top-flight matches in 2012-13 and 2015-16 (both five). With eight league fixtures remaining, they sit 15th in the table and six points clear of the relegation playoff position.
Die Kraichgauer have accumulated as many Bundesliga points on home soil as they have away after 26 games this term (13 each), but they head into Saturday's contest without a win in their last seven home league games (D4 L3) - the longest ongoing run of any current top-flight team.
Hoffenheim last endured a longer winless home run between 2022 and 2023 (nine games - a joint club record). Meanwhile, they have failed to keep a clean sheet in each of their last 33 Bundesliga home matches - the longest run in the division's history.
However, there is reason for Hoffenheim to be confident of success this weekend, as they have won 15 of their 27 Bundesliga encounters with Augsburg (D6 L6) and they have not beaten any other team as often in the top flight.
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Since losing 1-0 at home to Stuttgart on January 12, Augsburg have put together a club-record 10-match unbeaten run in the Bundesliga (W6 D4) - the longest ongoing undefeated streak in the division which was extended when they secured a 1-0 home victory over Wolfsburg a fortnight ago.
A special delivery from Cedric Zesiger set up Phillip Tietz to score the decisive goal eight minutes after the break, while some Finn Dahmen heroics helped Die Fuggerstadter hold on for maximum points and keep their sixth consecutive clean sheets - an ongoing club record.
Augsburg have, in fact, conceded the fewest goals in Europe's top-five leagues in 2025 (three) and have kept 10 Bundesliga clean sheets overall this season, just one short of their club record (11) in 2015-16 under former boss Markus Weinzierl.
Current head coach Jess Thorup sees his side sitting ninth in the Bundesliga standings and only four points behind the top six with eight matches left to play. With 38 points from 26 matches, Augsburg are enjoying their best Bundesliga campaign since 2014-15 (also 38 points); they have only ever been better off at this stage in 2013-14 (39 points).
Augsburg head into Saturday's contest unbeaten in their last six Bundesliga away matches (W4 D2), conceding just one goal - an own goal - in the process, but they have suffered defeat in each of their last four league visits to Hoffenheim, conceding 10 goals in total.
Team News
%20celebrates%20scoring%20for%20Augsburg%20on%20January%2015,%202025.jpeg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "Alexis Claude-Maurice (No. 20) celebrates scoring for Augsburg on January 15, 2025")
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Hoffenheim defender Leo Ostigard (thigh) was forced off in the first half of Norway's 5-0 win over Moldova in World Cup qualifying last weekend and has emerged as a doubt along with Alexander Prass and Adam Hlozek (both ankle).
Ihlas Bebou, Ozan Kabak and Grischa Promel all remain sidelined with knee injuries, while Christopher Lenz (calf) and Diadie Samassekou (thigh) are also in the treatment room.
The potential absence of Ostigard could see Arthur Chaves handed a start alongside Kevin Akpoguma in central defence, while the rest of the first XI could remain intact, with Andrej Kramaric providing support for Gift Orban in attack.
As for Augsburg, Robert Gumny (groin), Yusuf Kabadayi (knee), Henri Koudossou (muscle) and Reece Oxford (ill) all remain sidelined, while Mergim Berisha (thigh) will be assessed ahead of kickoff.
Thorup has no reason to change his defensive setup considering that they have not conceded a single goal for over 540 minutes, so Zesiger, Jeffrey Gouweleeuw and Chrislain Matsima are set to continue in the back three, protecting goalkeeper Dahmen.
Alexis Claude-Maurice has scored a team-high 10 goals so far this season and the midfielder will likely keep his place in an advanced role alongside Fredrik Jensen, behind either Tietz or Samuel Essende up front.
Hoffenheim possible starting lineup:
Baumann; Kaderabek, Chaves, Akpoguma, Jurasek; Stach, Becker; Bischof, Kramaric, Bulter; Orban
Augsburg possible starting lineup:
Dahmen; Matsima, Gouweleeuw, Zesiger; Wolf, Rexhbecaj, Onyeka, Giannoulis; Jensen, Claude-Maurice; Tietz
We say: Hoffenheim 0-1 Augsburg
Although Hoffenheim's home form leaves little to be desired, they have only lost one of their previous 13 top-flight home meetings against Augsburg (W8 D4) and they have already frustrated Die Fuggerstadter on their turf this season.
However, Augsburg have found a way to grind out positive results since the turn of the year and have impressed away from home in recent months, so with that in mind, we are backing the visitors to claim another slender victory to boost their hopes of qualifying for Europe.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Oliver Thomas
