sehr guten Fußball?

The brilliant start to the Bundesliga season which saw the 1899 Hoffenheim lead the table at the break has taken a drastic turn since the start of the Rückrunde. While Ralf Rangnick contends his side is playing very well, they have only one win, that against Energie Cottbus and in the remaining four matches have draw to Gladbach, Stuttgart and Dortmund. Each are "fine" results but a point a match is barely above that of a team avoiding relegation, much less one fighting for the championship.

To complicate matters 1899 has been dealt a series of injury problems with Sejad Salihović joining Vedad Ibišević in the stands with a knee injury with Gustavo, Selim Teber and Tobias Weis all suspended. Timo Hildebrand will return to the practice grounds next week leaving goalkeeping duties to Daniel Haas once again. Edu Obasi is hitting full stride with Wellington and Boubacar Sanogo pressing for the starting eleven.

Werder coach Thomas Schaaf is without Naldo to suspension and Mannschaft capped Clemens Fritz is injured. Tim Wiese has returned to practice and should be ready to go.