Our next opponents: Kramaric outperforms Lewandowski

Position

Thursday night also went to plan for TSG Hoffenheim. In contrast to the Werkself, Hoffenheim were already certain of finishing top but otherwise the matches from Leverkusen and Sinsheim were similar: A clear and commanding victory plus match practice for several young players. One player in particular stood out for TSG in the 4-1 victory over KAA Gent: The 18-year-old striker Maximilian Beier produced an impressive display with two goals and one assist. "It was a successful evening all round," declared a happy head coach Sebastian Hoeneß after the game. He can look back at a very successful group stage where his team picked up five wins and one draw and there were no doubts about their progress to the next round from the start. Hoeneß & Co. have also done well in the Bundesliga recently: The 3-1 win against FC Augsburg last Monday was the first Hoffenheim league win in almost two and a half months – although the performances were often better than the results during this phase. TSG are currently tenth in the league on twelve points. After beating Chemnitz in the DFB Cup first round, Hoffenheim play the top second division team from Fürth just before Christmas.

Personnel

The side that clearly beat Gent on Thursday is unlikely to be the starting line-up for TSG at the BayArena on Sunday. Hoeneß made ten changes to his team after the Augsburg game with only defender Stefan Posch on the pitch for both matches. So it is now entirely possible there will be another major rotation.

One player definitely not on the pitch in Leverkusen will be homegrown talent Dennis Geiger, who captained Hoffenheim on Thursday, as he is currently suspended in the league. Hoeneß also has to manage without a number of regular first choices. The regular key defender Benjamin Hübner has not played one game this season due to a torn cruciate, and another central defender Ermin Bicakcic is also sidelined with a cruciate injury. Full-backs Pavel Kaderabek (calf) and former Leverkusen player Konstantinos Stafylidis (shoulder) are ruled out with forwards Jacob Bruun Larsen and Sargis Adamyan, after recovering from coronavirus, options for the bench at best.

All the same: Ishak Belfodil, who was also ill with Covid-19, made his comeback in the 4-1 win against Gent with a 30-minute appearance. The striker could be a substitute in the game against the Werkself.

Performers

TSG have one of the few Bundesliga players in their ranks who can win a game on their own on a good day. Somebody who can make the difference at any time. Hoffenheim have Andrej Kramaric. Although the Croat – also affected by coronavirus – has only played six Bundesliga games this term, he has already clocked up an impressive return of seven goals for Hoffenheim. His average mark in kicker of 2.17 is by far the best for all Bundesliga players and even tops Robert Lewandowski. Indicative of the outstanding form of the striker: On Thursday, he had only been on the pitch for three minutes when he scored the goal to make it 4-0. The key point: Kramaric is not only Hoffenheim's centre forward but also TSG's playmaker, distributor, creative outlet. The 29-year-old has long been record goalscorer for Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga and according to Hoeneß is "on course to assume legend status." It's clear as daylight: Anyone wanting to beat Hoffenheim must be able to deal with Kramaric.

Problems

TSG have room for improvement in their pressing game. Although Hoffenheim have only conceded 17 goals, they have not kept a single clean sheet in the Bundesliga this term. "Sometimes it’s too easy for the opposition to create chances," goalkeeper Oliver Baumann recently complained. An important point in this respect: the approach to challenges. At the moment, Hoffenheim only win 46% of challenges and that is the lowest percentage in the league. In addition, the Hoeneß team commit the fourth highest number of fouls in the Bundesliga and are the only side to have had two red cards so far this season.

Prediction

The fact Hoffenheim are able to beat any side when they are at full strength was impressively demonstrated on matchday two. Kramaric & Co. secured a breathtaking 4-1 win against the reigning Champions League winners Bayern Munich. The drop in form in the league was down to numerous cases of coronavirus in the team as well as bad luck in games. When the long list of absentees gradually diminishes, Hoffenheim should quickly return to being a team able to challenge for a European spot. And TSG will also be able to spring one or two surprises in the knockout stages of the Europa League.