Preview: Hoffenheim vs. FC Koln - prediction, team news, lineups

Hoffenheim take on FC Koln in the Bundesliga on Sunday, with the hosts looking to put more distance between themselves and their forthcoming opponents, who currently occupy the relegation playoff position in the table.

Both sides are coming off the back of morale boosting victories in midweek, so it could be a higher quality affair than perhaps anticipated.

Match preview

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After a domestic season blighted by injuries and inconsistency, Hoffenheim will hope that the worst is now behind them after Tuesday's excellent 3-0 victory at Hertha Berlin.

After Sebastian Rudy fired the visitors ahead in the first half, Sebastian Hoeness's side were allowed to play in a manner which suits them most in terms of transitioning quickly whenever the opportunities for them arose to do so.

Perhaps more of a crucial factor, though, was Andrej Kramaric looking back to his best. The Croatian forward scored his first brace since leading the sensational 4-3 victory over Bayern Munich in September, with Hoeness utilising him higher up the pitch than in recent weeks due to the return of several players from injury.

With a more solid platform behind him, Kramaric should now be allowed to shine once again, which can only lead to more consistently positive results for Hoffenheim in the coming weeks.

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After failing to win any of their previous five league games, FC Koln looked in danger of becoming marooned in 16th position at best this season.

As such, Wednesday's fixture against bottom placed Schalke 04 was a huge relegation six-pointer for both teams, with Jan Thielmann's last-minute winner earning Markus Gisdol's side a vital 2-1 win.

Rafael Czichos had fired the visitors into the lead but, after Matthew Hoppe scored his fifth goal in three games for Schalke after the break, the match looked as though it was fizzling out for a point apiece.

Thielmann's winner, however, leaves 16th-placed Koln only four points behind their forthcoming opponents Hoffenheim, who are 11th, with a whole host of teams now looking to avoid finishing in that dreaded relegation playoff position.

Hoffenheim Bundesliga form: LWLLDW Hoffenheim form (all competitions): WLLLDW

FC Koln Bundesliga form: LDLLDW FC Koln form (all competitions): DWLLDW

Team News

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Hoffenheim injury list remains lengthy, with Robert Skov, Kevin Akpoguma, Florian Grillitsch, Dennis Geiger, Pavel Kaderabek, Ermin Bicakcic, Benjamin Hubner and Kostas Stafylidis all unlikely to feature against Koln.

Thankfully for Hoeness, though, Kevin Vogt's injury scare in the draw against Arminia proved to be more minor than expected, with the central defender lasting 60 minutes against Hertha.

Koln's Sebastian Andersson and Florian Kainz are unlikely to travel to Hoffenheim due to knee injuries, but both could return to first-team action by the end of January.

Otherwise, Gisdol appears to have no injury concerns, with the 51-year-old likely to stick with the same XI which defeated Schalke.

Hoffenheim possible starting lineup: Baumann; Kasim, Vogt, Posch; Gacinovic, Rudy, Samassekou, Baumgartner, John; Kramaric, Dabour

FC Koln possible starting lineup: T. Horn; Cestic, Bornauw, Czichos; Ehizibue, Hector, Skhiri, J. Horn; Wolf, Drexler; Duda

We say: Hoffenheim 2-1 FC Koln

With Kramaric looking close to his best once again, we can envisage Hoffenheim putting serious distance between themselves and the relegation zone with a crucial victory.

Any victory for either side is unlikely to be by a big margin, though, with Koln regularly remaining competitive in games this season.

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