Gameweek 22 in the Bundesliga sees Hoffenheim and Union Berlin battle at the PreZero Arena on Saturday, with the out-of-form hosts keen to push for a top-six spot.
Union are flirting with a relegation tussle as only five points separate them from the bottom three, and they aim to preserve their five-point advantage on Koln.
Match preview
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The new year has not been kind to Hoffenheim, evidenced by a wretched run of results that began at the backend of 2023, with Pellegrino Matarazzo's side winning one of seven Bundesliga games to close the year.
With no victories in five league games in 2024, Die Kraichgauer have not recorded a win in their last seven matches, a run they hope to end on Saturday.
While Matarazzo's men have halted the run of defeats, three draws in the trot have seen them slide to eighth in the standings, even if they sit only five points shy of Eintracht Frankfurt in sixth.
Ending in the European places remains attainable if Die Kraichgauer find ways to win again, but they must find some defensive balance after keeping only one clean sheet all season.
That shutout came against the same opponents in September, and they hope for more of the same as the approach to score more than the opposition has not been rewarding.
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Union seek to continue Hoffenheim's wait for a second Bundesliga clean sheet on Saturday, keen to extend that five-month wait and aid their survival hopes.
Nenad Bjelica's troops have improved since the Croatian took charge, but they remain only five points away from relegation playoffs danger, with Koln breathing down the Iron Ones' neck in the standings.
Although defeat at Hoffenheim cannot put the visitors in immediate danger, Union hope to avoid getting sucked into looking over their shoulders when a win at PreZero Arena could take the 15th-placed side as high as 11th if results elsewhere go in their favour.
That outcome should motivate the Iron Ones, even if Bjelica's men must find ways to pick up results on their travels, with Union claiming one success in 11 away matches — a 4-1 win at Darmstadt in August.
With five road points secured by the Berlin-based side all season, the travelling support could be forgiven for expecting more of the same at Hoffenheim on Saturday.
Team News
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Mergim Berisha and Marco John have suffered season-ending ACL injuries, thus ruling them out of this weekend's clash; meanwhile, Marius Bulter is doubtful because of illness.
Andrej Kramaric and Maximilian Beier netted the goals in the reverse fixture and hope to make similar impacts for the side keen to end their winless run.
Bjelica's Union have no definite absentees, although Josip Juranovic and Kevin Vogt are doubtful for this weekend's clash.
Robin Gosens, whose goal won a point at Mainz on February 7 and Danilho Doekhi, last weekend's match-winner, should play from the off for the Iron Ones.
Christopher Trimmel should return to the side at wing-back after serving his suspension.
Hoffenheim possible starting lineup:
Bauman; Kabak, Brooks, Nsoki; Kaderabek, Promel, Grillitsch, Skov; Kramaric; Weghorst, Beier
Union Berlin possible starting lineup:
Ronnow; Doekhi, Knoche, Leite; Khedira; Trimmel, Laidouni, Haberer, Gosens; Volland, Hollerbach
We say: Hoffenheim 2-2 Union Berlin
The four previous games between these sides at Hoffenheim have seen a minimum of four goals scored, and the pattern could continue as both sides play out a high-scoring tie at the PreZero Arena.
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