Hoffenheim vs Stuttgart – News and Probable Lineups

As the battle for a Champions League spot intensifies in the Bundesliga, Hoffenheim is set to host top-four challengers Stuttgart at the PreZero Arena this Saturday in a vital encounter.

Die Kraichgauer are seeking to secure their third consecutive victory this weekend, while Die Roten aim to recover from a frustrating draw in their last match.

Match overview

Christian Ilzer’s Hoffenheim have emerged as dark horses for a top-four finish this season, but after spending significant time in contention for UEFA’s premier club competition, they have seen their position decline in the standings.

Following their 3-0 victory over Freiburg on Valentine’s Day, Die Kraichgauer managed to claim just one win in their subsequent seven Bundesliga matches, suffering three losses and drawing three, including a disappointing 1-0 defeat against relegation-threatened St Pauli on February 28.

Nonetheless, Ilzer’s team appears to have regained some consistency just in time to revive their Champions League aspirations, recording a 2-1 success against Borussia Dortmund on April 18, followed by another 2-1 win over Hamburgo SV in their latest fixture.

As a result, Hoffenheim arrives for Saturday’s match sitting fifth in the Bundesliga, sharing 57 points with their rivals, and they are now unbeaten in their last three outings.

However, it remains uncertain whether the hosts can sustain their positive form in the season’s closing matches, particularly as they have only achieved one home win in their last four attempts, registering two defeats and one draw – 1-1 versus Wolfsburg on March 14.

Meanwhile, Stuttgart, under the guidance of Sebastian Hoeness, have remarkably bounced back from an underwhelming ninth-place finish in 2024-25, positioning themselves for a shot at Champions League football, particularly after parting ways with players like Nick Woltemade last summer.

Currently, Die Roten occupy the fourth position in the Bundesliga and have reached the DFB-Pokal final, where they face Bayern Munich on May 23 in an effort to defend their cup title.

Nevertheless, Hoeness’s squad has shown inconsistency in recent weeks, alternating between wins and losses over the eight matches leading up to their frustrating 1-1 draw with Werder Bremen last Sunday.

This draw has placed Stuttgart in a precarious situation, as they now sit level on 57 points with Hoffenheim and have only managed one league victory – a 4-0 rout of Hamburgo SV on April 12 – in their last four Bundesliga fixtures.

To compound the situation, the visitors head into this matchup having recorded two defeats, two draws, and just one win in their last five away league encounters, including a shocking 2-1 defeat by St Pauli and a 3-3 draw against the bottom-placed Heidenheim.

With merely three matches left in the season, Saturday’s important fixture could have significant implications, and if Die Roten aim to re-establish themselves in the top tier of European competition, they must overcome their poor away form.

Team News

Hoffenheim is already missing several defenders, including right-back Valentin Gendrey (ankle) and center-back Koki Machida, who is recuperating from an anterior cruciate ligament injury. To add to their challenges, suspended center-back Robin Hranac will also be unavailable this weekend.

To shore up their defense, Ilzer may choose a trio of Ozan Kabak, Albian Hajdari, and Bernardo, with goalkeeper Oliver Baumann behind them, flanked by Vladimir Coufal and Bazoumana Toure as wing-backs.

On another note, midfielder Grischa Promel is suspended after receiving his fifth yellow card of the season against Hamburgo, though Leon Avdullahu and Wouter Burger are expected to take up roles in the center of the pitch.

Up front, striker Adam Hlozek is out with a calf injury, but Tim Lemperle is anticipated to have support from Fisnik Asllani and Andrej Kramaric in the attack.

For Stuttgart, they are set to be without center-backs Ameen Al Dakhil and Finn Jeltsch, who are both working on regaining their fitness after knee and abdominal injuries, respectively. This will likely see Ramon Hendriks and Jeff Chabot fill the central defensive roles.

Long-term injured winger Lazar Jovanovic remains sidelined with a back injury, but Bilal El Khannouss, Deniz Undav, and Chris Fuhrich are poised to line up behind the versatile Tiago Tomas this Saturday.

Hoffenheim probable starting XI:

Baumann; Kabak, Hajdari, Bernardo; Coufal, Avdullahu, Burger, Toure; Kramaric; Lemperle, Asllani

Stuttgart probable starting XI:

Nubel; Vagnoman, Hendriks, Chabot, Mittelstadt; Karazor, Stiller; El Khannouss, Undav, Fuhrich; Tomas

Hoffenheim has seen a dip in pace in recent months; however, they appear to be regaining form just in time to make a significant impact as the season reaches its climax.

That said, uncertainty lingers around both teams – particularly given Stuttgart’s erratic form – suggesting that Saturday’s match could be tightly contested.