Strong travellers from Hoffenheim | Opponent analysis

Ready for our final home game of the year!

RB Leipzig will host TSG Hoffenheim on Saturday (18:30 CET) in what will be their final match at the Red Bull Arena in 2023. The team will be looking to take all three points with the help of the home support.

However, we will face tough competition from TSG. Hoffenheim are currently in sixth place, just six points behind RBL. Head coach Pellegrino Matarazzo‘s side have been extremely strong on their travels so far, having won five away games this season.

Find everything you need to know about the key players, our head-to-head record and more in our opponent analysis!

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TSG’s recent form

Hoffenheim got off to a strong start this season, but have experienced a slight dip in form, winning just one of their games since early November (3-1 at home vs. Bochum last weekend). The team currently have 23 points to their name.
The Villagers won their first five away games this season, setting a new club record in the process. However, they have winless in their last two on their travels, drawing 1-1 in Augsburg before losing 2-1 at Gladbach.

TSG’s last five competitive games

3-1 win against VfL Bochum (MD14)
2-1 loss at Borussia Mönchengladbach (MD13)
1-1 draw against Mainz 05 (MD12)
1-1 draw at FC Augsburg (MD11)
3-1 loss against Bayer 04 Leverkusen (MD10)

Key facts

TSG have taken 16 pointson the road this season, placing them joint second in the away table. FC Bayern have also picked up 16 points from their away games this term, just one behind Leverkusen (17). Each of these three teams have won five times on their travels so far.
The Villagers tend to look to score their goals from out wide, having played the third-most crosses of any side in the division this term (147). Only Union Berlin (173) and 1. FC Köln (193) have sent in more. Hoffenheim have also conceded just two headers from crosses, with only Bayern better at defending crosses into the box.
TSG also cover plenty of ground in their matches (1,701.1 kilometres so far – average of 121.5 km per game). Only promoted side Heidenheim are better off in this regard (1,704.3 km).

Team news

Transfer market

Striker Maximilian Beier returned to Sinsheim over the summer after spending two years on loan at Hannover 96. The 21-year-old has scored a club high six goals this season. TSG also strengthened their attack by bringing in Wout Weghorst (from Manchester United), Mergim Berisha (FC Augsburg) and Marius Bülter (FC Schalke 04). The additions of midfielders Anton Stach (1. FSV Mainz 05) and returnee Florian Grillitsch (Ajax) have also helped bring fresh blood to the team, as has the signing of defenders such as Attila Szalai (Fenerbahce).
The team also saw plenty of players depart over the summer, with Christoph Baumgartner moving to Leipzig. Angelo Stiller moved to VfB Stuttgart, Munas Dabbur to Al Ahli in Dubai, Jacob Bruun went to Burnley and former Leipzig man Angelino joined Galatasaray. Sebastian Rudy announced his retirement, while Ermin Bicakcic has joined Eintracht Braunschweig, as Kasper Dolberg and Thomas Delaney signed for Anderlecht.

Key players

Captain Oliver Baumann has been one of the Bundesliga’s best goalkeepers for several years now. He has saved 70.4% of shots faced this season – the fourth best rate of all regular starting goalkeepers. He has also made the second most saves in the division (59). The 33-year-old is a real penalty expert, having saved three of the four spot-kicks he’s faced this term.
Kevin Vogt is a key figure at the back for TSG. The 1.94m tall defender has played the full 90 minutes in each of the last 11 competitive matches. Vogt is extremely quick and an important component in his side’s build-up play and is skilful on the ball as well. The 32-year-old is a real leader as well, but isn’t known for his prowess in front of goal – he last found the back of the net on 18th October 2014.
Hoffenheim have a top player in their ranks in attack in Andrej Kramaric. The Croat is able to play at a variety of positions in attack, having most recently featured as a number 10. He has been involved in six goals this term (5 goals, 1 assist) and has a knack for creating space for himself, thereby allowing him to pose a threat on goal.

Absences

Maximilian Beier, Kevin Vogt, Diadie Samassekou and Julian Justvan are all doubts due to illness.
Anton Stach, Florian Grillitsch, Ihlas Bebou (all knee injuries) and Umut Tohumcu (ankle) could also miss this weekend’s primetime clash. Striker Wout Weghorst will miss out due to an adductor injury.

Head coach

Pellegrino Matarazzo returned to Sinsheim in February 2023. The Italian-American was previously at the club from July 2017 to the end of 2019 in various roles, including U17s head coach, first-team assistant coach under former RBL and current Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann. Matarazzo’s first stop in his coaching career was at 1. FC Nürnberg.
The 46-year-old took charge of VfB Stuttgart in the second division in December 2019. He guided the Swabians to the Bundesliga and helped them finish ninth in their first season back. He departed the club three years later, in October 2022. He primarily plays a 3-5-2 formation at Hoffenheim, but occasionally switches to a 4-2-3-1, like against Bochum most recently.

RBL’s record vs. Hoffenheim

Head-to-head

10 wins, 3 draws, 3 losses– 27 goals scored, 19 conceded
5 home wins, 5 away wins
Top goalscorer:Timo Werner (6)
Biggest win: 3-0 on 10th April 2022 (Goals: Christopher Nkunku, Marcel Halstenberg, Dominik Szoboszlai)

The last five meetings

29th April 2023 | Bundesliga, matchday 30: RB Leipzig – TSG Hoffenheim | 1-0
1st February 2023 | DFB-Pokal, round of 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