FIRST TEAM
04/26/2018

#TSGH96 preview: “We need to get all three points on Friday”

On Friday, TSG Hoffenheim welcome Hannover 96 to the WIRSOL Rhein-Neckar-Arena on Bundesliga matchday 32 (kick-off: 20:30 CEST). achtzehn99.de and head coach Julian Nagelsmann look ahead to the clash with the men from Lower Saxony.

Julian Nagelsmann on...

... the opponents.

“Hannover were outstanding in the first half of the season, because they were comfortable playing in a variety of formations. Andre Breitenreiter and his staff prepared his team for a variety of situations. That is their biggest asset. It hasn’t gone so well in the second half of the season, which can largely be attributed to the unrest in and around the club. Things have happened that have definitely not been helpful for the team. I want every fanbase to have pride in their club. Teams who have just been promoted often find it difficult after the winter break. In my view they’ve already achieved their goal of staying in the top flight and I think that means they’ve had a successful season.

... the squad.

“Stefan Posch, Dennis Geiger and Benjamin Hübner are injured. I think that we’ll be without them on Friday. Florian Grillitsch is also suspended.

... the sporting situation I.

We are in good form at the moment and we want to continue that over our last three games. We’ve put together a very good campaign again this year. It’s been a while since a team made its debut in European competitions and then also challenged for the qualification spots the following season as well. I believe the last time was more than 30 years ago.

... the sporting situation II.

“It makes no sense to start thinking about the games against Stuttgart and Dortmund. We need to get all three points on Friday, then we’ll go from there. When you play on Friday you get to enjoy a nice, relaxing Saturday where we can sit back and see how the rest of the fixtures unfold across the rest of the league.”

... the sporting situation III.

“We will train a bit later than usual on Friday, so that we get into the rhythm of having a late kick-off on Friday. We’ve had a lot of fixtures take place on Thursday this season though, so we’ve become somewhat used to the later kick-off times.”

The head to head

TSG have had the better of it in the previous games between the two sides, having won 10 of the 17 fixtures that have taken place to date. The points were shared on two occasions, while Hannover have won five times. One thing is of particular importance on Friday - TSG’s almost perfect home record against Hannover. Six of the eight games ended in Hoffenheim wins, with the other two ending all square. The goal difference also speaks clearly in favour of Hoffenheim (19 to 8). TSG have beaten no other side more than they have beaten Hannover 96 in the Bundesliga (10).

The opponent’s form

Hannover have only won once in their last nine Bundesliga games and have to be comfortable with the fact that the teams from the top half of the table have a little bit too much for them - losses have come against Gladbach, Frankfurt, Leipzig, Dortmund and Bayern. Also of note: Hannover have not won away from home since matchday 9. That win was played against FC Augsburg and finished 2-1.

The key battle

The first 15 minutes could be decisive against Hannover. TSG have scored nine goals this season in that time period, whereas Hannover have scored only one. TSG are the second placed team in the Bundesliga in that regard, while Hannover are 17th. It won’t be as easy as that though, because Hannover have also conceded the least amount of times in that period amongst all teams in the league. You cannot win a game in the first 15 minutes, but you can certainly lose it.

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