Hoffenheim v Bochum: CONFIRMED line-ups, match stats and live blog!
Will Andrej Kramaric end his four-game scoreless streak when Hoffenheim host Bochum at the PreZero Arena on Saturday (kick-off: 3.30pm CEST)?
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Hoffenheim had won four in the rotation before holding defending champions Bayern Munich and suffering a surprise defeat to struggling Hertha Berlin before the international break. Despite this defeat, they approach the 28th day in sixth place and well placed to win a European place. They are just one point behind fourth-placed RB Leipzig and victory over Bochum could even move them within a point of third-placed Bayer Leverkusen. Coach Sebastian Hoeneß has had good news in recent weeks with long-absent Ermin Bicakcic and Robert Skov both back on the training ground, although they are not yet ready to return. Meanwhile, David Raum’s superb domestic form has translated to the international stage as he helped Germany to victory over Israel at home this weekend and his next task is to provide Kramaric ammunition in attack. Meanwhile, captain Benjamin Hübner is injured in the back.
As for Bochum, they have lost each of their last two Bundesliga games – including the abandoned meeting with Borussia Mönchengladbach on Matchday 27 – and three of their last four to leave Thomas Reis’s men just six points behind. ahead of the promotion/relegation game. out of place. This means that Bochum is not quite out of the woods yet. Their cause was not helped by illnesses, with Christian Gamboa, Maxim Leitsch, Milos Pantovic and Robert Tesche all missing against the Foals. The international break has given them the chance to self-isolate and recover, however, and all four have been given the nod for today’s game. Leitsch’s return is all the more timely as Armel Bella-Kotchap is suspended for the trip to Hoffenheim.
Look: Bochum won an eventful game against Hoffenheim earlier this season
Match statistics
- Kramaric is Hoffenheim’s top scorer in the Bundesliga with 86 goals in 185 games. However, with four goals after 27 appearances, this could be the first of his six full seasons at the club where he hasn’t reached double goals.
- Hoeneß will oversee his 75th competitive game in charge of Hoffenheim. His record reads W32, D17, L25, with a points-per-game ratio of 1.53. That’s equal to his predecessor Julian Nagelsmann’s average over his 136 games at the helm.
- Hoffenheim lead two statistical categories so far in 2021/22: most shots against the woodwork (17) and yellow cards (60).
- Polter has scored half of his team-leading eight Bundesliga goals in 2021/22 away from home.
- Bochum won eight points on the road to 25 away. It is only in Mainz that the gap is greater (30 points at home against seven away).
- Not sure yet: Promoted Alemannia Aachen had 33 points at this stage in 2006/07 – one more than Bochum – but still suffered automatic relegation.
CONFIRMED compositions
Hoffenheim: Baumann (c) – Akpoguma, Grillitsch, Vogt – Kaderabek, Samassekou, Stiller, Raum – Baumgartner – Bebou, Kramaric
Subtitles: Philipp, Richards, Nordtveit, Che, Rudy, Geiger, Bruun Larsen, Georginio, Dabbur
Outside: Bicakcic (knee), Posch (not included), Skov (thigh), Hübner (match fitness)
Coach: Sebastien Hoeneß
Bohum: Riemann – Gamboa, Masovic, Leitsch, Soares – Rexhbecaj, Losilla (c), Stafylidis – Pantovic, Polter, Asano
Subtitles: Esser, Lampropoulos, Bockhorn, Löwen, Osterhage, Tesche, Holtmann, Antwi-Adjei, Bonga
Outside: Bella-Kotchap (suspended), Locadia (hip), Pantovic (not included), Zoller (knee)
Coach: Thomas Reis
