Bongarts
The home side will be without the services of heavily-lauded young attacker Mario Gotze, who was recently diagnosed with an inflammation of the cartilage in his pelvis, meaning the Germany international will be out for anything up to two months.
BVB will also miss long-term absentee Julian Koch, who is still in rehab after tearing his cruciate ligament. In better news, first-choice goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller has recovered from a knock and is sure to start.
For Hoffenheim, Marvin Compper looks likely to miss out due to a knee problem, while Matthias Jaissle is still in rehabilitation. Isaac Vorsah will also be unavailable due to being at the Afcon, and Stefan Thesker is suspended.
Prediction | PROBABLE LINEUPS |
BORUSSIA DORTMUND  Weidenfeller Piszczek, Subotic, Hummels, Schmelzer Bender, Kehl Kuba, Kagawa, Grosskreutz Lewandowski | HOFFENHEIM  Starke Beck, Williams, Vestergaard, Braafheid Rudy, Salihovic Johnson, Firmino, Mlapa Babel |
The home side will be without the services of heavily-lauded young attacker Mario Gotze, who was recently diagnosed with an inflammation of the cartilage in his pelvis, meaning the Germany international will be out for anything up to two months.
BVB will also miss long-term absentee Julian Koch, who is still in rehab after tearing his cruciate ligament. In better news, first-choice goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller has recovered from a knock and is sure to start.
For Hoffenheim, Marvin Compper looks likely to miss out due to a knee problem, while Matthias Jaissle is still in rehabilitation. Isaac Vorsah will also be unavailable due to being at the Afcon, and Stefan Thesker is suspended.
| DID YOU KNOW |
Borussia Dortmund are undefeated in seven games, six of which have been wins. Their last defeat was to Marseille in the Champions League before the turn of the year.
- Hoffenheim are undefeated in six games, although only three of them have been victories.
- BVB's Robert Lewandowski is currently sitting in third place in the Bundesliga's top scorers chart this season with 14 goals. Hoffenheim's highest player in the table is Vedad Ibesevic with five.
- The hosts have an astonishing four players in the Bundesliga's top-20 table for assists this term, amassing an impressive 21 between them. Hoffenheim have one player in the top 20, Fabian Johnson, who has four.
- Hoffenheim skipper Andres Beck has the worst disciplinary record in the league this season with an incredible eight yellow cards to his name.
Dortmund have shipped only three goals in their last six matches without a single loss. In such red-hot form, boasting a plethora of attacking talent, expect the hosts to make a long day for Hoffenheim.
Editor's Prediction
Dortmund 3-0 Hoffenheim 
