Our next opponents: Hoffenheim defy injury plight

Position

Despite the first away win in the Europa League, TSG Hoffenheim went out of the competition on Thursday night. The 4-3 win away to Anderlecht was not enough to go through to the play-offs as other results did not go their way. Hoffenheim were one point short. Nevertheless, the victory in Belgium is achievement given that 18 players from the TSG first-team squad were unavailable. The injury list is something coach Christian Ilzer has never experienced in his career to date as he revealed before match. The 47-year-old coach had to use numerous young talents from the TSG Academy at Anderlecht. The first half went the way of the hosts who took an early lead. The equaliser for Hoffenheim just before half-time was scored out of the blue by Robin Hranak. The visitors raced out of the blocks in the second half. The Blue and Whites took a 4-1 lead with three goals in twelve minutes scored by Tom Bischof (54’), David Mokwa (59’) and former Werkself player Adam Hlozek (65’). Anderlecht did hit back in the closing stages. "But we secured the win with lots of young lads making their debuts," said Ilzer after the game. "I'm happy with the performance and the result also because we had to battle hard in difficult phases. We go out with our heads held high."

The Austrian Christian Ilzer took over from Pellegrino Matarazzo in the dugout at TSG after Matchday 10 in November 2024. The new coach celebrated a brilliant 4-3 win against RB Leipzig on his first time out. That was followed by nine games without a win across competitions with six defeats including a DFB Pokal exit at VfL Wolfsburg (0-3). At the end of the Hinrunde, Hoffenheim found themselves in the Bundesliga play-off spot. There has been a small revival in fortune with a 3-1 away win at newly promoted Holstein Kiel and a 2-2 draw at home to third-placed Eintracht Frankfurt. TSG are now fifteenth in the table with a four-point gap to the play-off spot. The win in Belgium has also provided an additional boost. "Playing against a team like Anderlecht with such a patched-up squad and so many young players, shows what’s possible if we stick together," declared defender Kevin Akpoguma.

Personnel

As if the injury list was not long enough already, Ilzer also had to manage without regular starters Valentin Gendrey, Andrej Kramaric and Anton Stach at Anderlecht. With all three there is the hope that they will be available again in Leverkusen on Sunday. Nevertheless, TSG will have to manage without a number of key players at the BayArena. That includes Germany keeper and captain Oliver Baumann (foot injury), central defender Ozan Kabak (rehab training after torn cruciate), the midfielders Umut Tohumcu (ankle injury), Diadie Samassekou (muscle injury) and Grischa Prömel (rehab training after torn cruciate) plus the strikers Haris Tabakovic (knee infection) and Ihlas Bebou (rehab training after knee operation). It also remains to be seen if Erencan Yardimci has recovered in time from an infection. Mergim Berisha, another striker, has gone out on loan to FC Augsburg just before the winter transfer window closes. As a replacement, TSG signed Gift Orban in January from the top French club Olympique Lyonnais. The Nigerian could start up front in Leverkusen. 19-year-old Max Moerstedt is also an option after playing against Anderlecht and Eintracht Frankfurt.

Problems

As with last season, the TSG defence is a source of great concern. Hoffenheim have conceded 37 goals in 19 games – the fourth highest number of all the Bundesliga teams. In 2023/24, 66 goals were conceded in 34 games, which was the fourth highest number. And that despite TSG qualifying for the Europa League the previous season with a seventh-place finish. Goalkeeper Oliver Baumann, one of the best German keepers, has prevented an even bigger flood of goals with his impressive performances. Hoffenheim clearly have not managed to get a grip on the problems in defence this season. TSG have had to pick the ball out of their own net 14 times in the last five matches – an average of almost three goals conceded per game. And the clash with the Werkself in the Hinrunde ended in a clear 4-1 defeat.

Performers

Hoffenheim have outstanding players in attack. Club legend Andrej Kramaric continues to lead the way at TSG. The Croat is again the top goalscorer in the team with seven goals in the current campaign. Close behind is Adam Hlozek who was signed from Bayer 04 in the summer. The Czech has netted six goals in the Bundesliga and also scored three in the Europa League including a goal in the 4-3 win at Anderlecht. Hlozek also levelled for the Blue and Whites in added time in the 2-2 draw with Eintracht Frankfurt in the last Bundesliga fixture. No question: Adam Hlozek has proved to be a great addition with his goal threat and versatility up front. Winter signing Gift Orban has made a promising impression in his first matches and he scored his first goal for TSG just 97 seconds after coming on as a substitute against Eintracht Frankfurt. In addition, Marius Bülter (four goals, one assist) and the youngsters Max Moerstedt, Erencan Yardimci and David Mokwa have also demonstrated their qualities as strikers.

Hoffenheim's fast transition play often goes down the wings. No other team in the Bundesliga has put in more crosses this season than TSG (328).