Hoeness: ''We have to stay focused''

Sebastian Hoeness on…

…opponents RB Leipzig: ''They have mastered all forms of play, are well-organised, and very varied in their approach. They are very successful both domestically and in Europe. That's impressive.''

…the defeat in Leverkusen: ''Unfortunately our six-game unbeaten run came to an end at the weekend. We put in a decent performance against the current league leaders. If we were a bit sharper in possession then we might well have been able to turn the game in our favour, despite the adversity we were faced with. We have to stay focused and we want to get points on the board before Christmas.''

…his previous spell in Leipzig: ''As a coach, each job you have shapes you in its own way. Of course the three years I spent in Leipzig left their mark on me. The club have a very clear playing philosophy, and I was able to learn a lot from that.''

…the post-Christmas training plans: ''We're going to give the lads a few days off. We're in a testing cycle, in which there can be no more than five days between tests. Unfortunately this means we won't be able to give them a longer break. The players will of course have to do a few runs in this period.''

The opposition's form:

Qualification to the Champions League Round of 16 achieved, just one point behind Bundesliga leaders Bayer 04 Leverkusen: RB Leipzig have had an excellent season thus far. Julian Nagelsmann's side have lost just once in the league (1-0 away to Borussia Mönchengladbach).

Head-to-head record:

TSG were able to come out on top in two of their first four encounters with RB Leipzig, but Hoffenheim have since lost four of the last five match-ups between the two sides. The last TSG victory dates back to 21 April 2018. 

Match facts and statistics »