Break the spell | OneFootball

SVW were 4-3 winners in the reverse fixture (photo: WERDER.DE)

Previewing Sunday’s home game against TSG Hoffenheim

You have to go all the way back to April 2014 for the last time SVW tasted victory at home against TSG Hoffenheim. It’s high time that spell was broken. On Sunday, 16th February, the Green-Whites play host to the side from Sinsheim, who are desperate for three points themselves.

Team news: Keke Topp, who has been back involved in parts of team training this week, and Marco Friedl (rehab following MCL strain) will both be missing against TSG Hoffenheim. Jens Stage is also a doubt for Sunday. Romano Schmid and Leonardo Bittencourt, who were absent in Munich with muscular problems, are available again.

Ole Werner on the opponents: “There are always two sides to the coin: There are always two sides to the coin: a team on a bad run could, of course, be lacking confidence, but they could also adopt a 'now more than ever' attitude. That’s why it’s important to produce our strengths on the pitch, just like we did against Mainz. We want to impose ourselves on our opponents and keep the three points in Bremen.”

Memorable last meeting

Stage scored his first hat-trick in the earlier clash with TSG this season (photo: W.DE)

Previous meetings: No one would have predicted SVW would go on to claim all three points after finding themselves 3-0 down after 12 minutes in Sinsheim. However, those who didn’t switch the TV off were rewarded for their patience. After an early red card for Hoffenheim’s Stanley N’Soki, the comeback was on. Julian Malatini got the ball rolling in the 21st minute, but it was a hat-trick from Jens Stage that fired Werder to an unforgettable 4-3 away win. In fact, each of the last five meetings between the sides have been decided by just the one goal. The Green-Whites have won 14 of the 33 total match-ups, while there have been 10 draws and nine TSG victories.

A miserable year so far: This season hasn’t exactly been sunshine and roses for Sunday’s visitors. While TSG managed to qualify for the Europa League last term, they currently find themselves down in 15th place. Christian Ilzer’s side have conceded 44 goals, a tally that’s only been worse for them in the 2012/13 campaign. This calendar year hasn’t gone well at all for Hoffenheim, with their tally of four points from six games leaving them bottom of the 2025 standings.