Borussia Dortmund, traditionally viewed as a key competitor to Bayern Munich’s dominance, is falling short of expectations this season. They currently sit in 6th place in the Bundesliga, three points shy of the top 4 and trailing the league leaders by a substantial 12 points.
Despite maintaining an unbeaten streak in their last three Bundesliga games—highlighted by a 4-0 victory over Freiburg and draws against Bayern Munich and Borussia Mönchengladbach—Dortmund has struggled with inconsistency, particularly in away fixtures. This week, they are set to clash with Barcelona in the Champions League.
In contrast, Hoffenheim, who clinched a European spot last season, is facing a more challenging campaign this year. With just 13 points from 15 matches, they find themselves in 14th place, merely three points clear of the relegation zone.
Following defeats to Mainz (2-0) and Wolfsburg (3-0) in the German Cup, Hoffenheim secured a 1-1 draw against Freiburg last week. They are also scheduled to play against FCSB in the Europa League this week.
Dortmund will be without winger Adeyemi, who has been sidelined for some time, along with other key players such as Sané and defender Anton. There are also injury concerns for Süle and striker Beier. Despite these setbacks, standout performers for Dortmund this season include winger Gittens, who has scored 4 goals in both the Bundesliga and the Champions League, and former Rennes forward Guirassy, who has tallied 6 goals and 1 assist in the Bundesliga, along with 4 goals in the Champions League.
Hoffenheim’s injury list features defenders Kabak and Lenz, midfielder Becker, and forwards Bebou and Promel. Nonetheless, Kramaric remains a significant threat, having scored 5 goals this season.
Prediction: Dortmund 2-0 Hoffenheim. Dortmund has shown strong home form, winning eight of their last nine matches at Signal Iduna Park, while Hoffenheim’s poor away form indicates they will face difficulties in this match.
