Opponent analysis: TSG Hoffenheim

The next three points are in sight! The unlucky defeat against Bayer 04 Leverkusen has been put behind us, RB Leipzig want to pick up points again this coming Saturday. TSG Hoffenheim are the opponents on matchday 30 at 15:30 CEST at the Red Bull Arena.

RBL are taking on TSG for the third time this season. In November last year, Marco Rose’s side won 3-1 away against Hoffenheim. The two sides then crossed paths again at the beginning of February in the DFB-Pokal last-16. RBL once again had the upperhand, winning 3-1 once again, this time at home.

The overall head-to-head already looks very positive for RBL. In their previous 15 games against TSG Hoffenheim, Leipzig have won nine games with just three defeats. Hoffenheim were also the opponents in RBL’s first-ever Bundesliga game, with the match in August 2016 ending in a 2-2 draw.

A lot is riding on the game on 29th April for both teams. RBL are fighting for the Champions League places, while TSG are still in the middle of the relegation battle despite an upturn in form under their new head coach. We take a look at our next opponent’s strengths.

Christo brace and Olmo stunner in previous game against Hoffenheim

RBL defeat Hoffenheim 3-1 for first league away win

Form

This season has been anything but plain sailing for Hoffenheim. In 14th place with 29 points, the side are only four points clear of the relegation play-off place. From the end of January until the middle of March the team suffered seven straight league defeats.

Even Pellegrino Matarazzo, who took over as head coach at the beginning of February, couldn’t get them back on track for a long time, but things have been looking upwards in the last few weeks.

In five games, Hoffenheim have picked up three wins and ten points. However, their last game put a dampener on this with a disappointing 3-1 defeat against 1. FC Köln.

Facts

TSG Hoffenheim …

… have already been awarded seven penalties. Five of these were successfully converted. Andrej Kramarić has scored from the spot four times but has also missed twice. Only Freiburg, Hertha BSC, Wolfsburg and Union Berlin have also been awarded seven penalties.
… compete hard in the tackle. As a result, 388 fouls have been given against them. Only Mainz 05 (390) have conceded more fouls. Their 68 yellow cards is also second-most in the league. FC Augsburg have picked up 85 yellow cards.
… put in a lot of running. The team have run a total of 3,377.6 Kilometers – the fourth-most distance covered in the league. 21,190 intensive runs is also a respectable amount, again it is the fourth-most in the league.

Team news

Key players

Oliver Baumann:
The 32-year-old has been one of the most consistent ‘keepers in the Bundesliga for years. The TSG shotstopper has been at the club for nine years, is quick off his line and a real leader.
Baumann has already saved 100 shots this season. Only Manuel Riemann (117, VfL Bochum) has been called upon more often.
Ozan Kabak:
Even if the Turkey international has had to fight for his starting spot in recent weeks, the physical defender is still one of TSG’s most recognisable faces.
Kabak, who has most played on the right of a back-three, is strong in one-on-ones and in the air, where he is especially hard to beat.
Christoph Baumgartner:
The Austria international is one of the key performers in attack. Baumgartner can play across the midfield and has also featured in attack.
The 23-year-old is the player with the most goal contributions after Kramarić (six goals, five assists) and is dynamic, strong on the ball and always searching for room to take a shot. This is proved by the 59 shots he has taken this season.
Andrej Kramarić:
Remains the heartbeat of Hoffenheim’s attack and a key man. The Croatian is among the best players in the league and is incredibly dangerous at all times with this technical ability and versatility.
Hoffenheim’s captain has regularly found double digits in the league in the recent years, with one exception, and has already scored nine times this season (two assists).

Unavailable players

Grischa Prömel:
The 28-year-old has missed the last half-a-year with an ankle fracture. The midfielder celebrated his comeback for the second team last weekend. There is a good possibility, then, that he will be in the matchday squad again for the first time in a while against RBL.
Jacob Bruun Larsen:
The attacker is still not fit again after a groin operation and will definitely not play any part.

The latest RBL injury news can be found in our team news update.

Team news

Head coach

Pellegrino Matarazzo made his return to TSG Hoffenheim on the 8th February having previously worked at the club between July 2017 and December 2019. The Italian American initially worked with the U17s, before becoming assistant coach of the first team, incidentally under former-RBL head coach Julian Nagelsmann. He began his coaching career at 1. FC Nürnberg.

The 45-year-old took over at VfB Stuttgart in the 2. Liga at the end of 2019. He immediately won promotion and then led them to a strong ninth-placed finish in their first Bundesliga season. He left the club after three years in October 2022. Most of the time, his side play a 3-4-2-1 formation. He has picked up three wins and a draw in ten games with Hoffenheim (average of 1 point-per-game).

RB Leipzig aiming to qualify for the Champions League

RBL’s season run-in at a glance

RBL’s record against TSG Hoffenheim

Head-to-head

9 wins, 3 draws, 3 defeats – 29:19 goals
4 home wins, 5 away wins
Top goalscorer: Timo Werner (6 goals)
Highest win: 3-0 on 10th April 2022 (Goals: Christopher Nkunku, Marcel Halstenberg, Dominik Szoboszlai)

The last five meetings

1st February 2023 | DFB-Pokal last-16: RB Leipzig – TSG Hoffenheim | 3-1
5th November 2022 | Bundesliga matchday 13: TSG Hoffenheim – RB Leipzig | 1-3
10th April 2022 | Bundesliga matchday 29: RB Leipzig – TSG Hoffenheim | 3-0
20th November 2021 | Bundesliga matchday 12: TSG Hoffenheim – RB Leipzig | 2-0
16th April 2021 | Bundesliga matchday 29: RB Leipzig – TSG Hoffenheim | 0-0