Hoffenheim vs Tottenham – Match preview and team news

The Football Faithful

·23 de janeiro de 2025

Hoffenheim vs Tottenham – Match preview and team news

A depleted Tottenham face German opposition in the Europa League tonight as they take on Hoffenheim in Sinsheim.

Both sides are experiencing difficult campaigns and both occupy 15th position in their respective leagues.

Vídeos OneFootball

Pape Matar Sarr has joined Spurs’ extensive injury list after suffering a knock against Everton. Rodrigo Bentancur is available after completing concussion protocols and Cristian Romero has returned to training but hasn’t travelled to Germany.

MATCHDAY 👊 🆚 Hoffenheim 🏟️ Rhein-Neckar-Arena 🏆 @EuropaLeague ⏰ 5.45pm GMT
– quinta-feira, 23 de janeiro de 2025

Micky van de Ven, Guglielmo Vicario, Destiny Udogie, Brennan Johnson, Dominic Solanke and Yves Bissouma are all ruled out although Postecoglou estimated the latter could be back for the weekend.

To add to their woes, Antonin Kinsky, Djed Spence and Sergio Reguilon are ineligible for the trip to Hoffenheim. The full-backs weren’t named in Tottenham’s Europa League squad while Kinsky’s move in January came after the registration deadline.

Hoffenheim are struggling in all competitions this season but are just one point off the Europa League playoff spots. Christian Ilzer’s side are also suffering from multiple injuries with nine first-team players possibly out tonight.

Winger Erencan Yardimci was the latest casualty after the Turkey international was forced off against Holstein Kiel on Saturday. Left-back Alexander Prass is a doubt with illness. January signing Gift Orban, who was once linked with Spurs, is ineligible after the striker’s recent move from Lyon.

Hoffenheim vs Tottenham – Match preview and team news

Form

Hoffenheim: DLLLW

After finishing seventh in the Bundesliga last term, Hoffenheim are currently hovering three points above the relegation places.

Since November, they have only won twice, though their most recent victory arrived at the weekend. A brace from Adam Hlozek secured a 3-1 victory away to Holstein Kiel, who are propping up the rest of the German top-flight.

Their inconsistent form led to the sacking of Pellegrino Matarazzo, who was succeeded by Christian Ilzer. The Austrian has a tough task to keep their European dreams alive with two games left to break into the playoffs.

The German side have already lost twice away to Portuguese opposition in Porto and Braga and have been held by FC Midtjylland and Lyon.

Tottenham: LWWLL

Ange Postecoglou’s team remained in 15th position in the Premier League after their 12th loss of the season against Everton.

It was a torrid first-half display with Everton cruising at 3-0 by the interval.

The Lilywhites pulled two goals back but couldn’t equalise and now only Wolves, Leicester and Southampton have lost more games than them.

Spurs are only outside the automatic round of 16 places on goal difference but haven’t won in their last three European outings.

Stalemates with Rangers and Roma came after their only defeat in the competition away to Turkish giants Galatasaray.

However, they commenced their Europa League campaign with three successive victories over Qarabag, Ferencvaros and AZ Alkmaar.

Last Meeting: N/A

Hoffenheim will face Tottenham for the first time tonight.

Predicted Lineups

Hoffenheim: Baumann; Gendry, N’Soki, Akpoguma, Jurasek; Bischof, Stach; Hlozek, Kramaric, Mokwa; Moerstedt.

Tottenham: Austin; Porro, Gray, Dragusin, Davies; Bergvall, Bentancur, Maddison; Kulusevski, Richarlison, Moore

Who is the referee?

Danish referee Morten Krogh will be the match official. D. Wollenberg Rasmussen and Steffen Bramsen will assist him while Mikkel Redder will be the fourth official. The VAR will be Pol van Boekel and he will be assisted by Fedayi San.