Preview

On September 14, 2024, the third round of the Bundesliga between Hoffenheim and Bayer Leverkusen will take place at the PreZero Arena in Sinsheim. The match will kick off at 16:30 local time and can be watched on Setanta Sports. Both clubs will be looking to improve their positions in the standings while continuing to fight for the championship.

Hoffenheim
Pellegrino Matarazzo's team made a bright start to the season, but his winning streak lasted only two rounds. In the first match of the Bundesliga, Hoffenheim defeated league debutants Holstein 3:2 thanks to a hat-trick by captain Andrej Kramaric. However, in the second round, the Sinsheimers lost to Eintracht Frankfurt am Main, despite another goal from Kramaric, ending the match with a score of 1:3. Matarazzo will face an even stronger opponent, and in this context the return of injured players will be a key factor for Hoffenheim. The team is also preparing to start the Europa League, which adds to the strain on their personnel resources.

Bayer
Before the international break, Bayer's amazing unbeaten run in the Bundesliga, which lasted more than a year, including 35 matches without defeat (29 wins and 6 draws), was interrupted. For the first time in this period, Xabi Alonso's team lost 2:3 to RB Leipzig, despite the fact that the Pharmacists led by two goals in the first half thanks to Jeremie Frimpong and Alex Grimaldo. However, an injury to first-choice goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky and the subsequent substitution of Matej Kovar played a key role in Leipzig's comeback. Lois Openda scored twice to give the visitors the victory. Now Bayer will try to extend their unbeaten away streak, which remains active despite the setback in the last round.

The match promises to be tense: Hoffenheim will be looking to return to winning ways after the defeat, while Bayer will try to rehabilitate themselves for the loss and extend their successful results on the road.