){kind=logo}
A chance to get back on track
MATCH PREVIEW OF THE HOME GAME AGAINST TSG HOFFENHEIM
09/01/26 | 3 Min
)
The first home game of the year is here! SV Werder Bremen host TSG Hoffenheim on matchday 16, with kick-off at the Weserstadion on Saturday, 10th January 2026 at 15:30 CET. After the short winter break, Horst Steffen’s side are looking to start the new year on a positive note and get back on track in front of their home crowd.
Squad update: Alongside the longer-term absentees Mitchell Weiser (ACL tear), Felix Agu (syndesmosis injury) and Victor Boniface (knee injury), Horst Steffen will also be without Maximilian Wöber (muscular problems) and Salim Musah (ankle) on Saturday. Mio Backhaus is also not guaranteed to be fit. Following a collision in training, the goalkeeper’s situation is being assessed on a day-to-day basis, with the 21-year-old still dealing with swelling around his eye.
A new-look Hoffenheim: Almost exactly a year ago, TSG were sitting 15th in the table, a position they would later finish the season in. Head coach Christian Ilzer had only been in the job for two months and was facing a tough task. Since the start of the new campaign, however, the Austrian has overseen a complete overhaul of the squad. A number of new signings have established themselves as regular starters, and Hoffenheim have taken 20 points from their last nine matches, putting them fifth in the table.
Head coach Horst Steffen on the opposition and the weather: “Hoffenheim have improved massively. They’re very flexible, make a lot of runs in behind and play with a very high defensive line. Their counter-pressing is aggressive, so we’ll need to find ways to break out of that and play through their press. I can’t predict exactly what the weather will be like on Saturday. So far, nothing has disrupted our training and everything’s gone to plan. The lads know the conditions and have trained on these pitches. As long as the surface is playable, there’s nothing stopping us from putting in a good performance – whether it’s minus seven or zero degrees.”
)
Recent meetings: On matchday 22 of last season, the Green-Whites were beaten 3-1 at home by Hoffenheim after initially taking the lead. The most recent trip to Sinsheim, however, proved far more successful for Werder, who overturned a 3-0 deficit to claim a dramatic 4-3 victory. At the Weserstadion, Bremen are without a win against Hoffenheim since 2014.
Goals guaranteed: Recent encounters with TSG have tended to be high-scoring affairs. A total of 22 goals have been scored across the last five meetings. One game in particular will live long in the memory: Werder’s spectacular 4-3 away win on matchday 5 of last season. Trailing 3-0 inside the opening 15 minutes, SVW drew level before half time, before Jens Stage completed the turnaround with his third goal shortly after the restart.
:quality(80))
:quality(80))
)
:quality(80))
)
:quality(80))
)
:quality(80))
)
:quality(80))
:quality(80))
:quality(80))
:quality(80))
:quality(80))
)
)
:quality(80))
:quality(80))
:quality(80))
:quality(80))