TSG Hoffenheim vs VfB Stuttgart preview: Massive clash in the race for Europe | OneFootball

TSG Hoffenheim

Hoffenheim are taking it down to the wire. A strong start to 2026 had Christian Ilzer's side sitting in third, but recent weeks have been less impressive. A poor stretch saw Hoffenheim win just one of seven, allowing RB Leipzig and VfB Stuttgart to move ahead into the top four.

Hoffenheim's Champions League hopes are not completely done. A late winner from Andrej Kramarić helped beat Borussia Dortmund 2-1, and Ilzer's side picked up another 2-1 win over Hamburger SV last weekend. This, combined with Stuttgart dropping points to Bayern Munich and Werder Bremen, means Hoffenheim are level on points with Stuttgart.

History is not on Hoffenheim's side. The last three results between the two have been draws, and Hoffenheim have not won against Stuttgart since October 2023. Their last home win over the Swabians came in February 2022.

Team News:

Robin Hranáč and Grischa Prömel will miss the game due to suspension from yellow card accumulation. Valentin Gendrey and Koki Machida are sidelined with injuries, although Machida, like Adam Hložek, is back in training after a long-term injury.

Predicted lineup (4-3-3): Baumann, Coufal, Kabak, Hajdari, Bernardo, Avdullahu, Kramarić, Burger, Lemperle, Toure, Asllani

VfB Stuttgart

It's been a busy end to the season for Stuttgart. March saw the Swabians exit the Europa League, losing both legs to FC Porto, but strong Bundesliga form has seen Sebastian Hoeneß's side climb from sixth to fourth. Stuttgart also clinched a spot in the DFB Pokal Final in dramatic fashion at the end of April with a win over Freiburg.

Stuttgart and Freiburg seemed destined for penalties, but Tiago Tomás had other ideas. The Portuguese forward scored a backheel in the 119th minute for the 2-1 win. This leaves Stuttgart with a daunting but potentially rewarding run of form to end the season: Hoffenheim, Bayer Leverkusen, Eintracht Frankfurt, and, in the Pokal Final, Bayern Munich.

They will go into these matches with confidence, though. Since a surprise defeat to St. Pauli in February, Stuttgart have lost just two Bundesliga matches, to Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich.

Team News:

Stuttgart will be without center-backs Finn Jeltsch and Ameen Al-Dakhil, who are out with injuries.

Predicted lineup (3-4-2-1): Nübel, Hendriks, Chabot, Mittelstädt, Leweling, Karazor, Stiller, Führich, Undav, Khannouss, Demirović