Preview: Hoffenheim vs. Schalke 04 - prediction, team news, lineups

Hoffenheim will be seeking a third successive victory when they host relegation rivals Schalke 04 in the Bundesliga on Sunday.

The visitors, meanwhile, are aiming to bounce back after falling to a 3-0 defeat to Bayer Leverkusen last weekend.

Match preview

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Having endured a losing streak of seven matches - a run which included only collecting two points from 14 matches - Hoffenheim appeared to be in perilous danger of succumbing to their first ever relegation from the Bundesliga.

However, it is amazing how quickly a team's outlook can change, particularly towards the bottom of the table. Successive victories for Pellegrino Matarazzo's side have moved them off the bottom of the Bundesliga and out of the relegation zone altogether.

After beating Hertha Berlin 3-1 in a crucial six-pointer prior to the recent international break, Die Kraichgauer returned to action with a bang by dispatching Werder Bremen 2-1 away from home last weekend, with Andrej Kramaric scoring his third goal in two matches.

Another seismic relegation clash awaits Matarazzo's side this weekend in the form of the visit of Schalke, who they can move seven points clear of - and the automatic relegation zone entirely should Stuttgart fail to beat VfL Bochum - by winning at Rhein-Neckar-Arena on Sunday.

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Schalke, meanwhile, saw their impressive eight-match unbeaten run came to an end at the hands of Leverkusen last time out, with Xabi Alonso's side running riot in a clinical second half performance.

Given that the victory represented Leverkusen's seventh win in their last eight matches in all competitions, Thomas Reis will be keen to ensure that his players' heads do not collectively drop ahead of a more winnable - and arguably even more important - fixture this weekend.

Indeed, they have clearly made great progress since returning from the World Cup-enforced break to the domestic break, having previously looked doomed to an instant return to Germany's second tier.

With Hertha only one point ahead of them in the relegation playoff spot prior to a ball being kicked this weekend, Die Konigsblauen clearly have every chance of avoiding automatic relegation at least based on current form, but they can surely not afford to fall to defeat to Hoffenheim if they are to have a realistic chance of climbing outside of the bottom three.

Team News

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Hoffenheim will remain without Munas Dabbur due to suspension, while Jacob Bruun Larsen, Stanley Nsoki, Grischa Promel, Robert Skov, Justin Che and Kasper Dolberg are all injury doubts for the hosts.

Matarazzo is unlikely to make any changes from his side's victory against Werder Bremen last time out, meaning Ozan Kabak may have to settle for a place on the bench once again after only appearing as a substitute during the 2-1 win.

Schalke, meanwhile, will travel without Justin Heekeren, Soichiro Kozuki, Sebastian Polter and Jere Uronen due to long-term injuries, while Sepp van den Berg, Danny Latza and Kenan Karaman are all unlikely to be risked.

However, Moritz Jenz could return to start alongside Maya Yoshida at the heart of the visitors' defence after missing last weekend's loss to Leverkusen with a muscle strain, in what could be Reis's only change given their side's strong form beforehand.

Hoffenheim possible starting lineup:

Baumann; Vogt, Brooks, Akpoguma; Kaderabek, Geiger, Becker, Angelino; Kramaric; Bebou, Baumgartner

Schalke 04 possible starting lineup:

Fahrmann; Brunner, Yoshida, Jenz, Matriciani; Kral, Krauss; Drexler, Zalazar, Bulter; Frey

We say: Hoffenheim 3-1 Schalke 04

Hoffenheim appear to have finally turned a corner with time to spare in terms of securing their survival this season, and we expect them to have too much quality for the visitors.

Schalke's confidence could be bruised after seeing their unbeaten run come to an empathic end against Leverkusen in their most recent match, and it would not be a surprise if their form continues to slide across the coming weeks.

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