Tactics
Hoffenheim boss Sebastian Hoeneß alternated between a 4-2-2-2 and 4-2-3-1 formation at the beginning of the season, but the 39-year-old now favours a 5-2-1-2 system which becomes a 3-4-1-2 when his side are in possession.
Absentees
Christopher Lenz is sidelined after breaking his little toe, while head coach Oliver Glasner is set to make a final decision on Djibril Sow – who is closing in on a return to the squad – after training on Friday. Goalkeeper Kevin Trapp is also a doubt.
Hoffenheim are without Chris Richards, Ermin Bicakcic, Benjamin Hübner and Marco John through injury, while Christoph Baumgartner and Pavel Kaderabek are serving one-match suspensions. Florian Grillitsch, Dennis Geiger and Stefan Posch also are doubtful for Saturday’s game.
Head-to-head
Eintracht and Hoffenheim have locked horns on 25 occasions, with both sides picking up nine victories and the other seven encounters finishing level.
Best of the stats
Filip Kostic has been directly involved in more Bundesliga goals against Hoffenheim (five goals, six assists) than against any other side.
TSG have scored 17 goals in the final quarter of an hour of games this season, more than any other team in Germany’s top flight apart from Borussia Dortmund.
Only 1. FC Köln (17) have averaged more crosses per game than Hoffenheim (16) and Frankfurt (14) in the Bundesliga this season.