RB Leipzig vs Hoffenheim Preview: Team News & Prediction
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RB Leipzig take on Hoffenheim in Zsolt Low’s first home fixture since taking charge as head coach.
Kick-off date/time: Saturday April 5th 2025: – UK – 2:30pm / US ET – 10:30am / US PT – 7:30am
How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / US – Some matches will be televised on ESPN channels so it is worth checking their schedules
How to watch online: UK – Not streamed / US – ESPN+
RB Leipzig Preview: Low makes home bow
A miserable week for RB Leipzig saw them dumped out of the DFB-Pokal at the semi-final stage by Stuttgart after losing to Hoffenheim, which ultimately cost Marco Rose his job. His replacement, Zsolt Low has yet to find a solution but a home clash with Hoffenheim may prove the ideal fixture for them to turn things around.
Low needs to try and reach the Champions League next season, so three points here is absolutely vital for the hosts as the fixtures begin to whittle down and a three-point gap currently stands between Leipzig and that top four.
Hoffenheim Preview: No win in three
Without a win in their last three Bundesliga fixtures, Hoffenheim are far from safe in the fight to avoid relegation with a five-point gap between themselves and the bottom three. They’ll see this as a good opportunity though against an RB Leipzig side low on confidence, but the visitors will have to play extremely well.
Scoring goals has been an issue for Hoffenheim of late, but at least here they can play on the counter-attack and try to soak up pressure with a view to hitting Leipzig on the break.
RB Leipzig Team News: Absences in defence and midfield
Defender Benjamin Henrichs and midfielder Antonio Nusa lead the list of players missing for RB Leipzig, who are also without Xavi Schlager.
Predicted XI (4-2-2-2): Gulacsi; Nedeljkovic, Orban, Lukeba, Raum; Vermeeren, Seiwald, Baumgartner, Simons; Sesko, Openda
Unavailable: Henrichs (Injured), Nusa (Injured), Ouedraogo (Injured), Schlager (Injured)
Questionable:
Hoffenheim Team News: Six out
Hoffenheim are missing at least six players for this encounter and the likes of Hlozek and Moerstedt could also find themselves on the sidelines.
Stergiou’s suspension means that he is one of five players set to miss out here for Hoffenheim. Chase, Nartey, Raimund and Zagadou are each absent through injury.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Baumann; Kaderabek, Chaves, Ostigard, Jurasek; Stach, Bischof; Toure, Kramaric, Bulter; Orban
Unavailable: Bebou (Injured), Kabak (Injured), Lenz (Injured), Prass (Injured), Promel (Injured), Samassekou (Injured)
Questionable: Hlozek (Injured), Moerstedt (Injured)
RB Leipzig vs Hoffenheim Prediction
There is no doubt about it, this is simply a must-win encounter for RB Leipzig. They’ve got the personnel to dominate Hoffenheim, but they need to take the chances when they come the home side’s way. When taking into account the lack of potency on Hoffenheim’s end, it’s worth backing RB Leipzig to grab their first win of Zslot Low’s reign.
RB Leipzig vs Hoffenheim Tip: RB Leipzig to win
