Hoffenheim vs Werder Bremen Prediction

Sunday in the Bundesliga sees an injury hit Hoffenheim take on a mid-table Werder Bremen side, with both sides looking to pick up a win to get their season well and truly underway.

With Hoffenheim surprisingly hovering just above the relegation zone after qualifying for the Europa League last campaign, they have struggled thanks to the absence of a number of starting players.

In what could end up being a key clash that sets the tone for the rest of both sides' seasons, here is everything you need to know ahead of the fixture.

Key Statistics

• Hoffenheim have failed to keep a clean sheet in any of their last 12 games (including friendlies).
• However, they have won their last three games against Werder Bremen, with two being away from home.
• Bremen center back Niklas Stark is averaging the most blocks per game of any player, at 2.3 per 90 minutes.
• Werder Bremen had the second best defensive record outside of the top six in 2023/24, conceding 54 goals.

Hoffenheim Preview

Hoffenheim Predicted Lineup (3-4-2-1): Oliver Baumann (GK); Kevin Akpoguma, Florian Grillitsch, Robin Hramaci; Pavel Kadarabek, Umut Tohumcu, Tom Bischof, Alexander Prass; Adam Hlozek, Jacob Bruun Larsen; Haris Tabakovic.

While Hoffenheim have some impressive squad depth to fill the gaps left by a plague of injuries, the absences are still considerable.

Their major absences include their starting striker Andrej Kramaric and midfielder Anton Stach through illness, while in defense, Ozan Kabak and Ihlas Bebou are out until at least Christmas, and likely longer.

To top things off, on top of the missing Stach, Hoffenheim are without Dennis Geiger, Finn Becker and Grischa Promel, reducing their midfield to bare bones.

While their squad depth includes a number of Austrian internationals, including Prass and Grillitsch, and the talented Dane Bruun Larsen, Hoffenheim will be struggling to field a truly competitive team until at least mid-October. Currently sitting in 15th, they will want to turn their form around much sooner than that.

Werder Bremen Preview

Werder Bremen Predicted Lineup (3-5-2): Michael Zetterer (GK); Niklas Stark, Amos Pieper, Anthony Jung; Felix Agu, Jens Stage, Senne Lynen, Romano Schmid, Mitchell Weiser; Marco Grull, Marvin Ducksch.

Bremen fortunately have avoided an injury crisis on the same scale of Hoffenheim, but they are missing starting winger Justin Njinmah to a short term ankle injury, and Milos Veljkovic to a similarly short term foot affliction. Center back Marco Friedl is also suspended.

Sitting in 11th on 5 points from as many games, Bremen have had a solid start to the season, beating Mainz away and picking up a point against both Borussia Dortmund and Augsburg.

However, they suffered a disastrous 5-0 defeat to a lethal looking Bayern Munich last time out, and morale would have plummeted after such a result.

The game against a depleted Hoffenheim presents a chance to get back on course, and Bremen will be looking at the fixture licking their lips at the prospect of three more critical points at this early stage of the season.

Hoffenheim vs Werder Bremen Head to Head

Last five meetings:

• 03/03/2024: Hoffenheim 2-1 Bremen.
• 07/10/2023: Bremen 2-3 Hoffenheim.
• 02/04/2023: Bremen 1-2 Hoffenheim.
• 07/10/2022: Hoffenheim 2-1 Bremen.
• 21/02/2021: Hoffenheim 4-0 Bremen.

Historical Head to Head - Hoffenheim: 9. Drawn: 9. Werder Bremen: 9.

Hoffenheim vs Werder Betting Tips

Hoffenheim are on paper a slightly better team than Bremen. However, the players that make that statement true are mostly out injured or ill, and Bremen will come into this game feeling surprisingly optimistic about taking three points.

It will be a close game, and could well be short of goals, but if Werder Bremen manage to reignite the solid backline they maintained last season, then they should be able to hold out for an away win here to deepen Hoffenheim's distress.

Hoffenheim vs Werder Bremen Final Prediction

Hoffenheim 0-1 Werder Bremen

It won’t be a match for the ages, and it certainly won’t be the highest quality game this weekend in the Bundesliga, with Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen heading for a titanic clash, but the game is still vital for both sides.

If Werder Bremen come away with the win, the European places are suddenly their sights, and this incentive could well see them level up for the remainder of the season.