Injury-hit Hoffenheim play host to an Eintracht Frankfurt side buoyed the return to fitness and form of Ante Rebic on Sunday (kick-off 3:30pm CEST/2:30pm BST/9:30am ET).
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Julian Nagelsmann's Hoffenheim were desperately unlucky not to get something from their midweek UEFA Champions League assignment against Pep Guardiola's Manchester City. The result followed another 2-1 reverse against RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga, and leaves 2017/18's third-placed finishers with with just two wins all season - a run of form not helped by a cataclysmic explosion of injuries. Kevin Vogt was one of five central defenders unavailable against Leipzig and the loss to City, and the Hoffenheim captain is likely to be sidelined again. Leonardo Bittencourt, Andrej Kramaric and Arsenal loanee Reiss Nelson are pushing for recalls, but Germany left-back Nico Schulz is a major doubt.
Frankfurt travel to Sinsheim fresh from handing out a 4-1 drubbing to Serie A's Lazio in the UEFA Europa League. The Eagles' beat Hannover by the same scoreline last weekend, with 2018 FIFA World Cup finalist Rebic scoring one and assisting another on his first start of the season following injury. The Croatia international was a second-half substitute against Lazio on Thursday, and will almost certainly start on Sunday afternoon. Luka Jovic could make way in attack, but defender David Abraham is set to miss out against his former club through injury. Mexico midfielder Marco Fabian is struggling with a niggling knee problem.
Probable line-ups
Hoffenheim: Baumann (c) - Posch, Hoogma, Akpoguma – Kaderabek, Grillitsch, Demirbay, Bittencourt – Belfodil, Joelinton, KramaricAbsentees: Adams (ankle), Amiri (stress fracture), Bicakcic (calf), Geiger (thigh), Hübner (concussion), Nordtveit (thigh) Rupp (knee), Schulz (thigh), Vogt (thigh), Zuber (back)Coach: Julian Nagelsmann
Frankfurt: Trapp – Da Costa, Hasebe, Russ (c), N'Dicka – Gacinovic, De Guzman, Torro, Kostic – Rebic, HallerAbsentees: Abraham (groin), Chandler, Fabian (both knee), Paciencia (meniscus), Salcedo (ankle)Coach: Adi Hütter
Match stats
Hoffenheim haven't lost to Frankfurt in their last six Bundesliga meetings (two wins, four draws), their longest unbeaten streak against any current top-flight side. TSG have also scored in each of their last 20 Bundesliga home games.
The two teams have a perfectly identical record after six Bundesliga games, both in terms of results (W2 D1 L3) and goal difference (10 scored, 10 conceded).
Hoffenheim have never lost consecutive Bundesliga home games under Nagelsmann. Last week's defeat to RB Leipzig at the WIRSOL Rhein-Neckar Arena was only the fourth in 44 home outings for the 31-year-old coach.
Frankfurt have won the most challenges (648) of any side in the Bundesliga this season, while Hoffenheim have covered the most distance as a team (453 miles, or 75.5 per game).
Eintracht's Sebastien Haller has had a goal or assist in every Bundesliga game this season, a feat matched only by Borussia Dortmund captain Marco Reus. Not only has the Frenchman notched three goals and three assists, he also tops the charts for challenges won on the ground (109) and in the air (42).
TSG defender Benjamin Hübner is unbeaten in five games against Frankfurt, and scored one of his six Bundesliga goals in a 1-0 win over the Eagles in April 2016. The 29-year-old will be indirectly taking on his father Bruno, who is Frankfurt's sporting director.