Preview: Hoffenheim vs. Werder Bremen - prediction, team news, lineups

Hoffenheim host Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga on Sunday, with the two sides level on points in the table as they look to move clearer of relegation trouble.

Both sides drew last weekend, which leaves them five points clear of the bottom three.

Match preview

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Hoffenheim continued their strong record against Borussia Dortmund in recent years by claiming a respectable 2-2 draw away from home last weekend.

After Erling Braut Haaland and Ihlas Bebou missed guilt-edged chances for either side, Jadon Sancho showed the pair of strikers how it was done by coolly slotting past Oliver Baumann to open the scoring after a superb slide-rule pass by Raphael Guerreiro.

However, Sebastian Hoeness's side rallied in response, with a fine switch of play taking several BVB players out of the game to help create space for Munas Dabbur to equalise, before Marwin Hitz flapped a cross straight at Bebou to allow Hoffenheim to take the lead after the break.

Haaland controversially salvaged a point for Edin Terzic's side by racing in behind Hoffenheim's defence after Dabbur had remained injured on the ground for several seconds, with the Israel striker in fine form once again in midweek by bagging a brace in a 3-3 draw with Molde in the Europa League last-32 on Thursday evening.

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In contrast, Werder Bremen continue to defend solidly having not conceded more than once in any of their last seven matches, but struggle for creativity.

Indeed, Florian Kohfeldt's side endured a goalless bore draw against Freiburg last weekend which would have tested even the most hardened football fan's concentration skills such was the lack of quality on display.

Milos Veljkovic spurned the best opportunity of the game moments before half time after seeing his header denied by Florian Muller at point-blank range, but Kohfeldt clearly seemed content with avoiding defeat as his team sat deep after the break to comfortably hold onto what they had.

Bremen may find opportunities easier to come by against a Hoffenheim side who defend and press higher up the pitch, with the likes of Milot Rashica and Joshua Sargent likely to enjoy the space in behind.

Hoffenheim Bundesliga form:

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Hoffenheim form (all competitions):

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Werder Bremen Bundesliga form:

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Werder Bremen form (all competitions):

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Team News

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Hoffenheim's availability problems continue to plague their season, with Kevin Vogt suspended for the match against Bremen after the defender picked up his fifth booking of the season in Dortmund.

Stefan Posch is also unavailable due to testing positive for COVID-19, with Ishak Belfodil, Robert Skov, Andrej Kramaric, Havard Nordtveit, Ryan Sessegnon, Kevin Akpoguma, Dennis Geiger, Ermin Bicakcic, Benjamin Hubner and Kostas Stafylidis all likely to remain in the treatment room.

Bremen, meanwhile, will travel to Hoffenheim without defenders Veljkovic and Marco Friedl due to calf and ankle injuries respectively.

Otherwise Kohfeldt appears to have no other selection concerns, with Niklas Moisander and Christian Gross likely to come into the defence.

Hoffenheim possible starting lineup:

Baumann; Kasim, Bogarde, Richards; Kaderabek, Rudy, Samassekou, John; Baumgartner; Bebou, Dabbur

Werder Bremen possible starting lineup:

Pavlenka; Moisander, Toprak, Gross; Gebre Selassie, Eggestein, Mohwald, Bittencourt, Augustinsson; Rashica, Sargent

We say: Hoffenheim 1-1 Werder Bremen

Hoffenheim's astonishing availability crisis leaves them vulnerable, but we think they can avoid defeat against a Bremen side who have shown themselves to be content with a point on several occasions this season.

Both side's domestic aims are likely to be centered around avoiding relegation this season, with the Europa League and the DFB-Pokal respectively providing the real ceiling of their ambitions.