Two domestic strugglers collide in the Europa League on Thursday evening as Tottenham Hotspur travel to Hoffenheim on Matchday 7 of the league phase.
Both teams have been hard-hit by injuries this term, and currently sit 15th in their respective league tables. After parting ways with Pellegrino Matarazzo in November, Hoffenheim’s form has only worsened and they are well in the relegation dogfight.
They did pick up their fourth win of the Bundesliga season at the weekend, however. as they beat one of the few teams that have fared worse than them this term, Holstein Kiel, 3-1. Perhaps that will ignite Thursday’s hosts, who have work to do to secure a play-off spot in this competition.
Tottenham are four points and 18 places ahead of Hoffenheim in the league phase table, with Ange Postecoglou’s team likely to head into the final matchday with a top eight spot in their hands should they claim a rare victory on Thursday.
Spurs have won just three of their previous 15 games in all competitions and another Premier League defeat at the weekend means they’re just eight points clear of the drop zone.
Experienced midfielder Florian Grillitsch is among the absentees, with the hosts also without Grischa Promel, Ihlas Bebou and Marius Bulter. Former Liverpool defender Ozan Kabak is nusring a long-term knee injury but is expected to make a return next month.
Tom Bischof is the one-to-watch in midfield having recently agreed to join Bayern Munich on a Bosman in the summer. Andrej Kramaraic and Adam Hlozek are Hoffenheim’s leading threats in attack.
Hoffenheim predicted lineup vs Tottenham (4-2-3-1): Baumann; Gendrey, Chaves, Akpoguma, Prass; Bischof, Stach; Kaderabek, Kramaric, Hlozek; Moerstedt.
Cristian Romero was involved in training ahead of Thursday’s game, but the Argentine won’t feature in Hoffenheim having spent weeks on the sidelines with a groin injury. Micky van de Ven is due to return to the training pitch next week.
Radu Dragusin should be fit to feature and Rodrigo Bentancur has travelled with the team. The Uruguayan will start at the base of midfield with Yves Bissouma the latest to pick up a hamstring injury. Pape Sarr also looks set to miss out.
January arrival Antonin Kinsky can’t be registered until after the league phase, while Djed Spence also wasn’t included in Postecoglou’s initial squad for the competition.
Dominic Solanke, Destiny Udogie, Guglielmo Vicario, Wilson Odobert, Brennan Johnson and Timo Werner are all absent.
Tottenham predicted lineup vs Hoffenheim (4-3-3): Austin; Porro, Dragusin, Gray, Davies; Bentancur, Bergvall, Maddison; Kulusevski, Richarlison, Moore.
