Key Facts
- Hoffenheim (6th/27 points) sits in a tight table between Stuttgart (+2) and Frankfurt (-1); every slip-up costs them contact with Europe, while Gladbach (10th/19) are only three points off the top.
- Ilzer’s team are coming off two home wins (4-1 Hamburg, 3-0 Augsburg) and a 0-0 draw in Stuttgart; the snowstorm cancellation in Bremen brought regeneration, but also three weeks without competitive rhythm.
- Gladbach’s 4-0 win over Augsburg was an important signal after defeats; Scally, Diks (penalty) and Tabakovic with a brace delivered efficiency, Netz set up twice.
- Gladbach are missing Kleindienst (knee surgery) and Hack, Cardoso is ill; Hoffenheim are without Machida, Frees and Hlozek, while Touré is at the AFCON.
- The last five encounters have been high-scoring: always over 2.5 goals and both teams scoring; there have always been at least two goals after the break, with Hoffenheim never winning the first half.
- Hoffenheim is the home favorite (odds 1.9) after winning 7-1 in their last two home games; in addition, 80% of the last five games for both teams have seen over 1.5 goals.
A 4-4 draw in the last direct encounter and a table in which every point immediately has an impact on the standings set the stage for the 17th Bundesliga matchday when Borussia Mönchengladbach faces TSG 1899 Hoffenheim at the PreZero Arena on Wednesday, January 14. Christian Ilzer’s Hoffenheim is sixth with 27 points and chasing VfB Stuttgart, which is two points ahead, while Eintracht Frankfurt is only one point behind – so there is not much room for error. Eugen Polanski’s Gladbach is tenth with 19 points, three points behind Union Berlin, and travels with personnel concerns, as Kleindienst and Hack are missing. Things could also change at Hoffenheim, as Kramaric is talking about a new contract and Touré is at the AFCON. The form curves point to a game that could come down to small details: Hoffenheim drew 0-0 in Stuttgart, well organized but lacking bite up front, and then the game against Werder Bremen was canceled due to a snowstorm. Gladbach, meanwhile, bounced back with a 4-0 win over Augsburg, a result that exceeded recent expectations.
- Venue: PreZero Arena, Sinsheim
- Date and time: January 14, 2026, 8:30 p.m.
- Competition: Bundesliga (matchday 17)
The cancellation in Bremen due to the snowstorm has given the hosts extra time to recover, and Kramaric sounds as motivated as ever. Nevertheless, Gladbach’s creative players have the quality to seize the moment – which is why “Both teams to score: Yes” and a high-scoring game remain in the running.
Hoffenheim form & record check
Hoffenheim returns to the Bundesliga in sixth place with 27 points, and the table is tight: Stuttgart is only two points ahead, Frankfurt only one behind, so Ilzer’s team cannot afford to slack off. The cancellation in Bremen due to the snowstorm has given them time to recover, but after three weeks without competitive minutes, it could also cost them their rhythm. The last five league games have brought two wins, two draws, and one defeat—solid, but without any sparkle. The 0-0 draw in Stuttgart was disciplined and composed, but it also highlighted a familiar issue: as soon as the initial pressing is overcome, creativity dries up. Before that, the 4-1 home win against Hamburg showed how quickly Hoffenheim can punish mistakes when Kramaric finds space between the lines. The flip side came in Dortmund, a 2-0 defeat in which the build-up play seemed rushed. The 3-0 win against Augsburg was their most complete performance, clean in the duels and ruthless after winning the ball, while the 1-1 draw in Mainz felt like two points dropped after a strong first hour. Interestingly, four of their last five league games have seen over 1.5 goals, but the second halves have been quieter.
Without Machida, Frees, and Hlozek, Ilzer is relying on Baumann and Kramaric, while Campbell is coming into form and Touré is away at the AFCON.
Ilzer is likely to stick to his usual 4-2-2-2, with Baumann behind a back four of Coufal, Hranac, Hajdari, and Bernardo. The double six of Avdullahu and Burger should secure the transition moments so that Kramaric and Prass can drift into the half-spaces as close, advancing creative players behind the two strikers Asllani and Lemperle. This is a plausible lineup, but not a confirmed one. With Machida and Frees out of action in defense, Ilzer may have limited alternatives at the back, with Akpoguma or Chaves the most obvious replacements if the predicted back four needs to be tweaked. Hlozek’s calf problem takes out a robust striker option, putting Berisha, Moerstedt, or Bebou more in the spotlight. Touré could also still be tied up with the AFCON, which would put Campbell or Damar within reach of additional minutes.
Gladbach Form & Record Check
Gladbach travels to Hoffenheim in 10th place in the table with 19 points, which fits in pretty well with a season that has oscillated somewhere between a new beginning and chaos. However, the table is tight: they are only three points behind Union Berlin, while 1. FC Köln lurks two points behind. That’s exactly why every clean, controlled performance counts, not just the spectacular ones. Sunday’s 4-0 win over Augsburg was exactly the kind of exclamation point Polanski needed, taking an early lead, clinical in the decisive moments, and much calmer in their own penalty area. Scally scored first, Diks converted a penalty, and Tabakovic’s brace showed real penalty area instinct, with Netz providing two assists. At the same time, it also set the record straight after the league defeats in Dortmund (2-0) and at home against Wolfsburg (1-3), when they lacked bite. There have been no draws in five games in all competitions, which is fitting for a team still searching for control. Four of these games saw over 1.5 goals, but the second halves were often tougher, with most games remaining under 1.5 after the break. The 0-1 away win in Mainz showed that they can manage a lead, but the 1-2 defeat in the cup against St. Pauli exposed their weaknesses, especially with Hack, Ngoumou, Kleindienst, and Cardoso missing.
Polanski is likely to stick with a 3-4-2-1 formation, with Nicolas almost certain to start in goal while Cardoso remains sidelined with illness. In this prediction, Sander, Elvedi, and Diks form the back three, with the idea of pushing out wide at times and closing down the center. Scally and Netz are expected to provide width as wing-backs, making their timing on the back foot particularly important. Elvedi is expected to organize the line. In midfield, Reitz and Engelhardt seem like the obvious double six duo, with Neuhaus and Honorat planned as the two playmakers behind Tabakovic. With Kleindienst out after knee surgery, Tabakovic will be the main presence in the box, while Machino would be a solid alternative if they want more mobility. Hack is out and Ngoumou is still building up his fitness, so Reyna or Stöger could be the first attacking substitutes.
Hoffenheim – Gladbach Head-to-head & statistics
Borussia Mönchengladbach has the upper hand in the last five encounters, with three wins to Hoffenheim’s one, plus a draw. The most recent game in May 2025 ended 4-4 after a wild final phase.
In 2024, Gladbach won 2-1 away, but Hoffenheim responded with a 4-3 win at home. In 2023, Gladbach won both games, 2-1 and 4-1. Goals were the constant factor: each of these five games saw over 2.5 goals, and both teams scored every time, a streak of five games that is hard to ignore. Even more telling is the view after the break: in every duel, at least two goals were scored after the break, and four out of five even went over 2.5 after the break. One might think that early control counts less here than staying power at the end. The trend in the first half is also striking: Hoffenheim has not won the first 45 minutes in any of its last five games, while Gladbach has not lost a first half in that period. With Hlozek currently out, Hoffenheim may once again have to rely on Kramaric when it comes to the decisive moments. Gladbach’s absences of Kleindienst and Hack could dampen their attacking power, putting more responsibility on Stöger and Honorat.
