Hoffenheim and RB Leipzig kick off Matchday 31 of the 2019/20 Bundesliga season as the two teams go head-to-head at PreZero Arena on Friday evening.
Hoffenheim come into this game on the back of a 2-2 draw with Fortuna Dusseldorf. Goals from Moeanes Dabour and Steven Zuber secured a point for the visitors in testing circumstances.
Benjamin Hubner was sent off after just nine minutes, meaning Hoffenheim only managed 35% possession and two shots on target. However, they made the most of their chances and held on.
Alfred Schreuder’s side are now seventh in the table – two points ahead of Freiburg and two points behind Wolfsburg.
After taking eight points from a possible 15 since the restart, Hoffenheim have propelled themselves up the standings and into contention for a European place.
Meanwhile, RB Leipzig have endured a disappointing run of results since the campaign resumed. Yes, they are unbeaten. But three draws in five games have quickly ended their title aspirations.
Julian Nagelsmann’s men have claimed high-scoring victories over Mainz and FC Koln recently, but draws with Freiburg, Hertha Berlin, and Paderborn have hampered their progress.
Dayot Upamecano saw red before half time in their previous game, after Patrik Schick has given Leipzig the lead. The hosts rallied, but Paderborn snatched an injury-time equaliser.
Leipzig are now third in the table – four points behind second-place Borussia Dortmund and three points ahead of Borussia Monchengladbach.
Looking at the head-to-head record between the two teams, a Timo Werner double helped Leipzig claim a convincing 3-1 victory over Hoffenheim in the reverse fixture back in December.
In fact, Leipzig are unbeaten in their previous four meetings with Hoffenheim in all competitions and have scored over 1.5 goals in each of their previous three victories in this fixture.
Hoffenheim will be without the suspended Hubner on Friday, while Ishak Belfodil, Sargis Adamyan, and Jacob Bruun Larsen are all injury doubts for the hosts.
As for Leipzig, Upamecano is suspended, while Yussuf Poulsen is set for a length spell on the sidelines. Marcel Sabitzer could return after sitting out of the draw with Paderborn.
Despite not being at their best, Leipzig are unbeaten in their previous 12 games in all competitions and have been excellent on their travels this season.
On the other hand, Hoffenheim have only managed to win two of their last 11 games in all competitions and have struggled to keep the ball out of their own net recently.
Forebet predicts that Leipzig will continue their domination of this fixture by claiming another high-scoring victory over Hoffenheim.