"We're expecting a very difficult challenge," said Pätzold: "Hoffenheim have demonstrated they have one of the best attacks in the league. We proved last season that we can stand up to them. We're travelling there with confidence and we want to work to get a result to get us back in touch with the leaders." After last Sunday's abandoned derby at the Franz Kremer Stadium in Cologne, the rearranged fixture is yet to be confirmed. Leverkusen are currently one point behind TSG in sixth place with nine points from four games. Hoffenheim have scored 13 goals in their five games - the second-best tally in the league behind leaders VfL Wolfsburg (20).
For Pätzold and his team, the match in Sinsheim also marks the start of a crucial phase. After the clash with TSG, league leaders VfL Wolfsburg visit the Ulrich Haberland Stadium a week on Sunday (19 October, 17:15 CEST, tickets are available HERE). "The league has already shown several times this season that there are no guaranteed points and that everything has to be hard-earned," said Pätzold: "One of our goals for the season is to pick up points against the top teams in the league. Hoffenheim had an impressive Rückrunde and have built on that with their good start to this season. Like the game against Wolfsburg, the match is therefore an important benchmark of our development."
The 46-year-old has great respect for the TSG attack in particular. "Hoffenheim lacked a bit of effectiveness last season, but it's completely different now," said Pätzold: "They are incredibly efficient, play an attacking transition game, generate a lot of pressure on the ball and get a lot of players into dangerous areas. They combine many elements that also characterise our style of play - from a similar basic structure."
He does not want to place too much emphasis on the Werkself being 1-0 down in Cologne when the game was abandoned. "The early goal we conceded rattled us a bit," said Pätzold: "Even though it certainly wasn't one of our best games, we gradually worked our way back into the match, were better organised and we had more control. I definitely think we could have turned the game round."
Melissa Friedrich and Ida Daedelow, who have been sidelined due to injury, are available again. Pätzold will have to manage without Cornelia Kramer (muscle injury) and Shen Menglu (cruciate ligament rupture) and Amy Wrigge who is unavailable due to illness. Anyone who wants to support the Werkself at the Dietmar Hopp Stadium can obtain tickets HERE or from the matchday ticket office.
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