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Dortmund eye perfect start vs Hoffenheim
5 Sep
Summary
- Hoffenheim seeks first home win after opening loss.
- Dortmund aims to extend perfect start to the season.
- Key injuries impact Dortmund's defensive lineup significantly.
Hoffenheim faces Borussia Dortmund at SNP Arena on Saturday, looking to secure points in their first home game of the Bundesliga season. Hoffenheim, who qualified for the Europa League last term, suffered a surprising 3-2 loss to FC Koln on August 29, despite leading twice. This defeat leaves them 13th in the table.
Borussia Dortmund, the runners-up from the previous season, have started their campaign with two wins. They defeated Hamburger SV 2-0 and followed up with a dominant 5-0 DFB-Pokal victory. Manager Niko Kovac is pushing for a title challenge this season, aiming to avoid falling behind rivals like Bayern Munich.
The hosts have several injury concerns, with striker Fisnik Asllani and winger Alexander Prass doubtful. Dortmund is also significantly affected by defensive absences, including Emre Can and Nico Schlotterbeck, with Ramy Bensebaini undergoing a late fitness test.
Despite Dortmund's strong start and confidence, Hoffenheim has a history of challenging them, notably winning the most recent encounter at this venue. The match is predicted to be a close contest, with a narrow 2-1 victory for Borussia Dortmund expected.
