Two local players clash in the Europa League on Thursday evening as Tottenham Hotspur travel to Hoffenheim in the 7th leg of the league stage.
Both teams have been hit hard by injuries this season and currently sit 15th in their respective league tables. After parting ways with Pellegrino Matarazzo in November, Hoffenheim's form has only deteriorated and they are well in the relegation battle.
They got their fourth win Bundesliga season on the weekend, however. after beating one of the few teams that have fared worse than them this season, Holstein Kiel, 3-1. Perhaps that will fire up Thursday's hosts, who have work to do to secure a play-off place in this competition.
Tottenham are four points and 18 places ahead of Hoffenheim in the league stage table, with Ange Postecoglou's side likely to go into the final game with one of the top eight spots in their hands if they claim a win rarely on Thursday.
Spurs have won just three of their previous 15 games in all competitions and one more Premier League defeat at the weekend means they are just eight points clear of the relegation zone.
Here it is 90 minutes guide for Thursday Europa League collision.
The record of matches between Hoffenheim and Tottenham
This is the first competitive match between Hoffenheim and Tottenham.
Current form (all competitions)
|
Hoffenheim |
Tottenham |
|---|---|
|
Holstein Kiel 1-3 Hoffenheim – 18/01/25 |
Everton 3-2 Tottenham – 19/01/25 |
|
Bayern Munich 5-0 Hoffenheim – 15/01/25 |
Arsenal 2-1 Tottenham – 15/01/25 |
|
Hoffenheim 0-1 Wolfsburg – 11/01/25 |
Tamworth 0-3 (AET) Tottenham – 12/01/25 |
|
Hoffenheim 1-2 Borussia Monchengladbach – 21/12/24 |
Tottenham 1-0 Liverpool – 01/08/25 |
|
Borussia Dortmund 1-1 Hoffenheim – 15/12/24 |
Tottenham 1-2 Newcastle – 04/01/25 |
|
country |
TV channel/live streaming |
|---|---|
|
United Kingdom |
discovery+, discovery+ app, TNT Sports 2 |
|
United States |
Paramount+, fuboTV, TUDN.com, TUDN App, TUDN USA |
|
Canada |
DAZN Canada |
Like their visitors, Hoffenheim have been hit hard by injuries this season.
Experienced midfielder Florian Grillitsch is among the absentees, with the hosts also without Grischa Promel, Ihlas Bebou and Marius Bulter. ex Liverpool Defender Ozan Kabak is suffering from a long-term knee injury but is expected to return next month.
Tom Bischof is one to watch in midfield who has agreed recently join Bayern Munich in a Bosman in the summer. Andrej Kramaraic and Adam Hlozek are Hoffenheim's main attacking threats.
Hoffenheim predicted formation against Tottenham (4-2-3-1): Baumann; Gendrey, Chaves, Akpoguma, Prass; Bischof, Stach; Kaderabek, Kramaric, Hlozek; Moerstedt.
Cristian Romero was involved in training ahead of Thursday's game, but the Argentine will not play at Hoffenheim after spending weeks on the sidelines with a groin injury. Micky van de Ven will be back on the field next week.
Radu Dragusin should be fit to play and Rodrigo Bentancur has traveled with the team. The Uruguayan will start at the base of midfield with Yves Bissouma the latest to suffer a hamstring injury. Pape Sarr also looks set to miss out.
January arrival Antonin Kinsky cannot be registered until after the league stage, while Djed Spence was also not included in Postecoglou's starting squad for the competition.
Dominic Solanke, Destiny Udogie, Guglielmo Vicario, Wilson Odobert, Brennan Johnson and Timo Werner are all absent.
Tottenham predicted the formation against Hoffenheim (4-3-3): Austin; Porro, Dragusin, Gray, Davies; Bentancur, Bergvall, Maddison; Kulusevski, Richarlison, Moore.
Despite being beaten again at Everton on Sunday, it was a blow Tottenham The team still hasn't given up on the coach. They are keen to put things right and are facing a team that has endured similar struggles this season.
Hoffenheim are also hit by injuries, but they could have a spring in their step after Saturday's triumph. They have attacking profiles that could hurt Tottenham and Ilzer's side should aim to take advantage of a Spurs team that simply doesn't win away from home.
There should be goals on Thursday night, and they could be shared when all is said and done.