Hoffenheim vs Wolfsburg – News and Probable Lineups

This Saturday afternoon, Hoffenheim continues their quest for Champions League action as they face a struggling Wolfsburg side at the PreZero Arena.

While Die Kraichgauer have seen a slight downturn in their form recently, it pales in comparison to the Wolves, who have suffered defeats in six of their last seven Bundesliga matches—a situation that has prompted significant management changes.

Match overview

Hoffenheim has undergone a remarkable shift from being serious relegation candidates to hopefuls for Champions League qualification in just a year.

Finishing in 15th place last season was considered an achievement for head coach Christian Ilzer, who successfully led the team away from relegation danger and secured a Bundesliga place for 2025-26.

This season, the Austrian manager has surprised many by crafting the second-most effective attack in the league, tallying 53 goals—only behind Bayern Munich’s astonishing 92.

As they head into this weekend’s fixture, Hoffenheim sits third in the table, having won just one match fewer than Borussia Dortmund in second place this season.

A top four finish and Champions League qualification is now an attainable goal for Die Kraichgauer; however, Ilzer and his team must conclude the season strongly.

Finishing on a high note means overcoming their recent dip in form, which has seen them win just two of their last five fixtures, including losses to Bayern Munich and St Pauli.

Hoffenheim managed to get back to winning ways with a 4-2 victory over Heidenheim last weekend, although conceding two goals to the league’s bottom team raises some concerns.

Wolfsburg has never faced relegation from the Bundesliga, but that historic situation might be imminent as the club continues to battle for results.

Entering this weekend in 17th place, the Wolves are four points short of safety after an eight-match winless streak.

Head coach Daniel Bauer was dismissed following last weekend’s home loss to Hamburgo SV, and former manager Dieter Hecking has been appointed as his successor.

Hecking previously guided the club to two trophies and Champions League participation over a decade ago; however, ensuring Wolfsburg’s survival in the Bundesliga this season could surpass those achievements given the current state of affairs.

Volkswagen, the sole owners of the club, have recently announced plans to cut 50,000 jobs due to a drop in business, and CEO Oliver Blume has already hinted at potential changes within the football club.

Wolfsburg’s squad stands as the fifth most expensive in the Bundesliga, meaning relegation could significantly impact future investments from the current ownership.

Hecking has nine matches to turn around the team’s fortunes, but with the club having lost their last three games and without a win since mid-January, the task facing the returning head coach is monumental.

Hoffenheim Bundesliga form:

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Wolfsburg Bundesliga form:

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Team News

Hoffenheim will be missing Valentin Gendrey this weekend due to a knee injury that has kept him to just five minutes of play across his last three games.

Adam Hlozek is making progress in recovering from a calf injury; however, the Czech forward is still not at full match fitness and is expected to remain sidelined.

Koki Machida, conversely, has a torn cruciate ligament and will be out for an extended period.

Leon Avdullahu, Wouter Burger, and Robin Hranac are on four yellow cards for the season, meaning a single additional booking will result in a suspension.

On the injury front, Wolfsburg received some positive news with Patrick Wimmer, Jonas Wind, and Joakim Maehle returning to the lineup.

Despite this, the team is still facing a lengthy injury list that includes Claiton (ankle), Bence Dardai (knee), and Kilian Fischer (thigh).

Kevin Paredes returned to action for 26 minutes against Augsburg at the end of February, but he has since found himself back on the sidelines due to a muscle issue.

Recently, Mattias Svanberg and young forward Aaron Zehnter have also been added to the injury list.

The defensive pairing of Rogerio and Jenson Seelt rounds out the extensive list of absentees for the visitors.

Hoffenheim probable starting XI:

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

Wolfsburg probable starting XI:

Grabara; Adjetey, Jenz, Koulierakis; Kumbedi, Eriksen, Vinicius Souza, Belocian; Lindstrom, Amoura; Pejcinovic

Only Bayern Munich has outscored Hoffenheim this season, suggesting that the hosts could exploit Wolfsburg’s weak defensive setup.

Both teams have much to gain in this fixture, but Die Kraichgauer is expected to have the upper hand in quality against the visitors, who are hoping for a managerial bounce.