Hoffenheim take on Stuttgart in the Bundesliga on Saturday with the hosts looking to put some distance between themselves and the relegation zone.
Since beating Bayern Munich 4-1 in late September, Hoffenheim have taken just one point from five matches to slide down to 13th in the table, while Stuttgart have drawn their last three games.
Match preview
Indeed, while things have gone well in the Europa League for Hoffenheim with three wins from three matches, it has been an extremely testing domestic period for Sebastian Hoeness's side, with Andrej Kramaric a huge miss since testing positive for coronavirus after that famous victory against Bayern.
The Croatian striker, who led the Bundesliga top goalscorer chart after striking twice against the reigning European and Bundesliga champions, has not featured since and it is still unclear whether he will be available for selection against Stuttgart.
Hoffenheim were hugely disappointing in a 2-1 defeat to Wolfsburg last time out, with Renato Steffen in fine form for Die Wolfe. The Swiss midfielder's third-man runs caused problems for Hoffenheim time and time again, with him calmly placing the ball past Oliver Baumann to open the scoring before teeing up Wout Weghorst for the Dutch striker's sixth goal in five games against Die Kraichgauer.
However, despite not having a shot on target until the 74th minute, Weghorst's missed penalty late in the match breathed new life into Hoffenheim, with Sargis Adamyan firing into the roof of the net to set up a dramatic finish.
Baumann went up for a corner in injury time and looked to head the ball over, but the referee correctly spotted a flailing Wolfsburg arm making contact with the ball. Munas Dabbur was dramatically denied from the spot by Koen Casteels, though, with the Belgian goalkeeper making a superb save low to his right against his former club to condemn Hoffenheim to a fourth defeat in five league matches.
Stuttgart, meanwhile, have stuttered a little in recent weeks after making a superb start to life back in the Bundesliga after being promoted last season.
They were unfortunate not to beat Eintracht Frankfurt last time out, though, having played some scintillating football in the firsth alf to take a 2-0 lead heading into the break. Indeed, Nicolas Gonzalez was in fine form once again, luring Almamy Toure into fouling him before calmly converting from the penalty spot. Gonzalez's magnificent first-time through-ball then found captain Gonzalo Castro, who coolly placed the ball through Kevin Trapp's legs to double Stuttgart's lead.
However, Frankfurt are not a side who are easy to sit on a lead against, with substitute Aymen Barkok making a decisive impact for the visitors. The Morocco winger skilfully beat a couple of opponents down the right before pulling the ball back for Andre Silva, who typically made no mistake with a fine low finish. Barkok's corner was later headed home by David Abraham at the near post to leave both sides heading home with a point apiece.
Pellegrino Matarazzo will be hoping his side can get back to winning ways against a side devoid of confidence, with the availability of Kramaric sure to have a huge impact on the result.
Hoffenheim Bundesliga form: WLLDLL
Hoffenheim form (all competitions): WDWLWL
Stuttgart Bundesliga form: DWWDDD
Team News
The hosts will be missing Dabbur, Ishak Belfodil, Sebastian Rudy, Jacob Larsen and Kevin Vogt due to coronavirus, with captain Benjamin Hubner, Kostas Stafylidis, Ermin Bicakcic and Dennis Geiger all still sidelined by injury.
It represents a serious availability crisis for Hoeness, who will certainly be pushing Kramaric to start, with the Croatian's potential strike partners - Dabbur and Belfodil - both unavailable.
In comparison, Matarazzo is more fortunate with five injuries. Former Arsenal defender Konstantinos Mavropanos remains sidelined by a meniscus injury, with Erik Thommy, Gregor Kobel, Maxime Awoudja and Clinton Mola all doubtful.
Gonzalez should retain his place in attack having impressed from the start against Frankfurt, with top goalscorer Sasa Kalajdzic likely to return alongside him having missed the 2-2 draw with a knock.
Hoffenheim possible starting lineup:
Baumann; Bogarde, Posch, Akpoguma; Kaderabek, Samassekou, Baumgartner, Sessegnon, Grillitsch; Kramaric, Adamyan
Stuttgart possible starting lineup:
Grahl; Stenzel, Karazor, Kempf; Coulibaly, Sosa, Endo, Castro, Mangala; Kalajdzic, Gonzalez
We say: Hoffenheim 1-2 Stuttgart
With Hoffenheim missing several first team players through illness and injury, their fans will be praying Kramaric is ready to return to the side.
Either way, despite potentially missing Kobel in goal, we can see Stuttgart getting back to winning ways having played the more convincing, slick football of the two sides on their way to gaining better results so far this season.
