Mainz vs Hoffenheim Preview: Team News & Prediction
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The Christian Ilzer era got off to a thrilling start last weekend and now Hoffenheim try to follow that up with another positive result away at Mainz.
Kick-off date/time: Sunday 1st December 2024: UK – 2:30pm / US ET – 9:30am / US PT – 6:30am
How to watch on TV: UK – Sky Sports / US – Some matches will be televised on ESPN channels so it is worth checking their schedules
How to watch online: UK – Sky Go / US – ESPN+
Mainz Preview: Back-to-back wins move Mainz into top eight
Heading into this latest round of Bundesliga fixtures, Mainz are sitting pretty in eighth-place after having extended their recent unbeaten run to four games, winning their last two. They successfully backed up victory over Borussia Dortmund with a commanding 0-3 triumph against struggling Holstein Kiel.
Scoring three times in each of those two games is a specific positive from a Mainz perspective. Attackers Lee Jae-Sung and Jonathan Burkardt found the net in both matches and will each have a big role to play again in this contest.
Hoffenheim Preview: Ilzer transformation clear to see
Hoffenheim fans are still coming down from the high of their 4-3 triumph against RB Leipzig last time out in what was Christian Ilzer’s first game in chrge. He is notorious within Austrian football for how he can transform a team and Hoffenheim look like reaping the benefits.
That three points have given Hoffenheim some much-needed breathing space between themselves and the relegation places, so Ilzer is now looking for his side to back that up here on the road. They fell to a heavy 3-0 defeat away at Braga in Europe midweek, but domestic commitments are likely to take priority for now.
Mainz Team News: Illness could sideline Onisiwo
Attacker Karim Onisiwo could be rule out of this game through illness, whilst forward Nelson Weiper is also likely to miss out due to a muscle problem. Mainz will also be without Gabriel Vidovic on what will be his 21st birthday, he is suspended.
Predicted XI (3-4-3): Zentner; Da Costa, Bell, Kohr; Caci, Sano, Amiri, Mwene; Nebel, Burkardt, Lee
Unavailable: Vidovic (Suspended)
Questionable: Onisiwo (Injured), Weiper (Injured)
Hoffenheim Team News: Long injury list for Ilzer to contend with
Hoffenheim are without several players again here with Bulter, Grillitsch and Kabak big misses in particular, as all three would likely feature if fit. Tabakovic could get the nod again up top with Hlozek, Kramaric and Bruun Larsen in behind, the latter due to Bulter’s thigh injury.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Baumann; Kaderabek, Chaves, Nsoki, Prass; Stach, Bischof; Hlozek, Kramaric, Bruun Larsen; Tabakovic
Unavailable: Bebou (Injured), Becker (Injured), Bulter (Injured), Grillitsch (Injured), Kabak (Injured), Lenz (Injured), Promel (Injured)
Questionable:
Mainz vs Hoffenheim Prediction
The attacking tendencies of both these two teams could mean we are in for a high-scoring battle with big chances expected at either end. Hoffenheim have clearly sacrificed defensive stability for more goals as Ilzer continues to implement his style of a new set of players. Mainz are flying high after racking up six goals across their last two games. Therefore, back both teams to score here along with over 2.5 goals.
Mainz vs Hoffenheim Tip: Over 2.5 goals and both teams to score
