Hoeness: "We want to frustrate Bayern"

Sebastian Hoeness on…

…the personnel situation: "Ermin Bičakčić continues to be absent as you know, while Marco John is still not available to us. In addition, Pavel Kadeřábek's injury means he's not in contention for the Bayern game. Benjamin Hübner has taken a step closer but he is still not an option for the squad. But things are going in the right direction."

…the opposition: "Bayern have also shown in the Champions League what good form they're in. They're the best term in pretty much every statistical category and are in really good form. Nonetheless, we want to go to Munich and frustrate Bayern. We're really up for that and it's our clear objective."

…the tactics on Saturday: "We've seen that FC Bayern's opponents also have opportunities against them. We want to be efficient and take these chances. We know that we'll need to overcome spells of Munich pressure. We'll have to be on full alert and will need to display conviction and courage. That's what we want to show on Saturday."

…the absence of Julian Nagelsmann due to illness: "It is obviously, generally speaking, better when the coach is present for a match and the preparations. But the match yesterday showed that they're still capable of winning. We wish Julian Nagelsmann all the best."

Head-to-head record:

A glance at previous meetings between TSG and FC Bayern clearly shows that the men from Munich, with 18 wins in 27 games, have the upper hand. But Hoffenheim have won two of the last five clashes between the two teams, including a spectacular 4-1 triumph on home soil a little over a year ago.

The opposition's form:

FC Bayern lost a game for the first time this season when they went down 2-1 away to Eintracht Frankfurt on Matchday 7. Things have otherwise gone almost perfectly this term for the men from Munich, whose new coach Julian Nagelsmann will not be in attendance on Saturday due to illness. FCB have claimed six victories and one draw from their eight Bundesliga games this season.

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