Hoffenheim look to move back into Germany's top five on Saturday when they play host to Eintracht Frankfurt in the penultimate round of fixtures before the Bundesliga's winter break.
Hoffenheim have slipped a bit as of late, drawing 0-0 at Hamburg a week after losing at home to Borussia Dortmund. They currently sit in sixth place, four points behind the final Champions League spot, currently held by Schalke.
Frankfurt have won their last two league games over Hertha Berlin and Mainz, and this has seen them move comfortably into 10th place on 22 points. The club still have European aspirations, and a result on Saturday would certainly boost those hopes.
Ralf Rangnick's Hoffenheim side will be without the suspended Maicosuel on Saturday, and both Andreas Beck and Kevin Conrad are out due to injury.
Frankfurt manager Michael Skibbe, meanwhile, is without Maik Franz, who sits out after obtaining five bookings on the season. Ioannis Amantidis' knee injury keeps him out, and both Martin Fenin and defender Aleksandar Vasoski are out injured.
The game proves to be a very tight encounter at Rhein-Neckar-Arena, but Hoffenheim will be desperate to hit their stride again after a recent rough patch.
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