The Daily Star Ireland
Borussia Dortmund, typically seen as a main contender to Bayern Munich’s supremacy, is not meeting expectations this season. Currently, they are in 6th place in the Bundesliga, three points behind the top 4, and a significant 12 points away from the league leaders. Even though they have remained unbeaten in their last three Bundesliga matches—featuring a 4-0 win over Freiburg and draws against Bayern Munich and Borussia Mönchengladbach—Dortmund has been plagued by inconsistency, especially in away games. They are gearing up to face Barcelona in the Champions League this week.
Meanwhile, Hoffenheim, who secured a European spot last season, is experiencing a much more difficult campaign this year. With only 13 points from 15 matches, they are positioned in 14th place, just three points above the relegation zone. Following losses to Mainz (2-0) and Wolfsburg (3-0) in the German Cup, Hoffenheim managed a 1-1 draw against Freiburg last week. They are also set to compete against FCSB in the Europa League this week.
Dortmund will be missing winger Adeyemi, who has been out for a while, along with other crucial players like Sané and defender Anton. There are also doubts about Süle and striker Beier due to recent injuries. Despite these challenges, Dortmund’s standout players this season include winger Gittens (with 4 goals in both the Bundesliga and the Champions League) and former Rennes forward Guirassy (6 goals, 1 assist in the Bundesliga, and 4 goals in the Champions League).
Hoffenheim’s injury list includes defenders Kabak and Lenz, midfielder Becker, and forwards Bebou and Promel. Nevertheless, Kramaric remains a significant threat with 5 goals this season.
Prediction
Dortmund 2-0 Hoffenheim. Dortmund has been strong at home, with eight wins in their last nine matches at Signal Iduna Park, while Hoffenheim’s poor away form suggests they will struggle in this encounter.
