RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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TSG Hoffenheim 2026/27 season preview: Transfers, pre-season, predicted lineup and predictions
What a difference a year makes in Sinsheim.
After narrowly avoiding relegation in 2024/25, Hoffenheim produced one of the best seasons in the club's history last term, as Christian Ilzer guided them to a fifth-place finish in the Bundesliga - sealing a Europa League spot after 61 points were put on the board.
Die Kraichgauer won 18 of their 34 league matches last term, scoring 65 goals and finishing just one point behind Baden-Württemberg rivals Stuttgart.
Now, the task is to prove that this was not just a one-off, especially with European football adding another competition to the schedule.
Hoffenheim begin their Bundesliga campaign on Saturday, making the trip to face Köln a day after learning their Europa League opponents in the league phase draw.
Pre-season performances
For the most part, Hoffenheim enjoyed an encouraging preparation for the new campaign.
Ilzer's side won their opening six friendlies, with victories over Greuther Fürth, Holstein Kiel and Karlsruhe following comfortable wins against lower-league opposition.
They beat Fürth 4-1, Kiel 3-1 and Karlsruhe 3-1 before travelling to Austria for their training camp in Seefeld.
The results became less impressive once the level of opposition increased.
Hoffenheim suffered a 4-1 defeat against Borussia Mönchengladbach before finishing their summer programme with two games against Tottenham Hotspur in London.
A strong Spurs side beat Hoffenheim 3-0 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with Richarlison and Mikey Moore scoring the goals. The clubs met again behind closed doors the following day, when Adam Hlozek and Valentin Gendrey scored in a 2-2 draw.
However, the Sinsheim side have already looked considerably sharper in competitive action.
Their first assignment of the season came away at Erzgebirge Aue in the DFB-Pokal on Saturday, and Ilzer's side eased into the second round with a 4-0 victory.
Summer signing Patrick Wimmer was the standout performer on his competitive debut, scoring twice and setting up Wouter Burger's goal. Max Moerstedt added the fourth after coming off the bench.
Transfers
Few Bundesliga clubs have been busier than Hoffenheim this summer.
The headline departure was Bazoumana Toure, who joined Newcastle United for a club-record fee after an outstanding 18 months in the Kraichgau region.
Reinvesting the €50 million, Hoffenheim spread their recruitment drive across the squad, with Wimmer in particular bringing considerably more Bundesliga experience than most of their other arrivals.
The Austrian international has joined from Wolfsburg after making more than 100 competitive appearances for the Lower Saxony club, and got off to the perfect start at the weekend with his debut performance in the cup.
Nathan De Cat is perhaps the most intriguing addition, though.
The 17-year-old arrived from Anderlecht after a breakout campaign in which he made 46 competitive appearances, scoring three goals and providing five assists. He had already earned his first senior Belgium cap before moving to Germany and has signed a contract until 2031.
De Cat has featured heavily throughout pre-season and started against both Tottenham and Aue, suggesting Ilzer does trust him despite his age.
Hoffenheim have also signed 20-year-old left-back Mats Rots from Twente and highly-rated midfielder Cajetan Lenz from Bochum. At the same time, Switzerland Under-21 striker Alessandro Vogt arrives after scoring 16 goals in 32 competitive appearances for St. Gallen last season.
Adam Daghim provides another option in attack. The Denmark international has arrived permanently from Red Bull Salzburg after spending last season on loan at Wolfsburg.
In terms of departures, Grischa Prömel joined boyhood club Stuttgart on a free transfer at the top of the summer, while Muhammed Damar has made the switch to Wolfsburg, and Kevin Akpoguma and Ihlas Bebou have moved on.
One player who looked certain to leave is Fisnik Asllani, with the forward close to joining RB Leipzig, only for the deal to collapse after Leipzig raised medical concerns.
As a result, his release clause has since expired, and the Kraichgau side are now planning with him for the new campaign - a huge bonus when his 21 goals and assists from last season are considered.
Predicted starting lineup
4-2-3-1: Baumann - Coufal, Kabak, Hajdari, Bernardo - Avdullahu, Burger - Kramaric, Asllani, Wimmer - Lemperle
Ilzer appears likely to stick with the 4-2-3-1 system that was so successful last season.
Baumann remains the undisputed number one and club captain, despite Luca Philipp being handed the Pokal game against Aue. Ilzer has already confirmed that Baumann will return between the posts for the Bundesliga opener in Köln.
The defensive unit is largely settled.
Vladimir Coufal, Ozan Kabak, Albian Hajdari and Bernardo formed Ilzer's first-choice back four during much of last season, and all started the final major friendly against Tottenham.
Rots will put significant pressure on Bernardo at left-back, however, and started the Pokal victory over Aue.
The partnership between Leon Avdullahu and Burger should remain at the heart of the side.
Burger was outstanding during his first season at Hoffenheim, registering five goals and nine assists in 32 appearances, and recently signed a new long-term contract.
Competition further forward is fierce.
Kramaric remains hugely important despite turning 35 this summer. Hoffenheim's record scorer struck 14 Bundesliga goals and provided six assists last season before extending his contract. However, he is currently recovering from groin surgery and is expected to miss the beginning of the campaign.
Wimmer looks the most obvious replacement for Toure on the opposite flank following his impressive Pokal debut.
Asllani should return to a prominent role once fully fit,...
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