Kovac warns Dortmund to be wary of Hoffenheim threat

Niko Kovac has warned Borussia Dortmund to be wary of Hoffenheim's threat as they prepare for their penultimate Bundesliga home game of 2025.

Dortmund are currently third in the table and are just two points better off than Hoffenheim, who are fifth, and would move above their opponents with a win on Sunday.

Since their 2-1 loss to Bayern Munich in October, Dortmund are unbeaten in five league matches, getting back to winning ways last weekend against Bayer Leverkusen, though they succumbed to the same opponent in the DFB-Pokal in midweek to be knocked out of the competition.

The Black and Yellow have not lost at home in the Bundesliga this season, and Kovac is keen to use that strength to their advantage as he acknowledges the tough test they face.

"They are in exceptionally good form, they are very strong runners and play with intensity," Kovac said. "That will be a challenge for us.

"They are a very serious and difficult opponent to play against.

"We are playing at home and want to take all three points against a direct rival. To do that, we have to play well – but I'm convinced we can."

Dortmund have trailed for just 91 minutes in the Bundesliga this season, the fewest of any team in the league heading into this weekend's slate of matches.

However, they have conceded six of their 11 goals in the Bundesliga this season in the final 15 minutes of matches, meaning Hoffenheim will feel confident, especially on the back of a six-match unbeaten streak (W5 D1).

Dortmund won a 3-2 thriller in their last meeting with Hoffenheim, and Christian Ilzer says they are determined to fight to the end once more.

"Playing in Dortmund is always a highlight," he said. "Last season, we scored the equaliser in the last minute.

"We don't fear the atmosphere, but we do have the necessary respect. There's a great deal of anticipation for the match.

"We want to put things into perspective. Dortmund are a top team and, apart from the match against Bayern, always the favourite. We are a dangerous and highly motivated outsider. We face an opponent that will demand everything from us."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Borussia Dortmund – Karim Adeyemi

Karim Adeyemi has scored four goals this Bundesliga season, his best ever tally in the first half of a top-flight campaign.

However, Adeyemi has failed to record a single goal involvement in his four Bundesliga appearances against Hoffenheim – he has not faced any other team in the top-flight on more occasions without registering a single goal or assist (also four games against RB Leipzig and Werder Bremen).

Hoffenheim – Wouter Burger

Wouter Burger scored and assisted for Hoffenheim against Augsburg for the first time in a Bundesliga game.

Only Fisnik Asllani (seven) has been involved in more Bundesliga goals for them this season than Burger (three goals, three assists), who is the seventh Hoffenheim player to record 3+ goals and 3+ assists after 11 Bundesliga appearances.

MATCH PREDICTION: BORUSSIA DORTMUND WIN

Dortmund have collected more points per game (2.4, minimum eight matches) against Hoffenheim than against any other opponent in all competitions since the start of the 2020-21 season, winning eight of their 11 matches in this period (D2 L1).

Furthermore, Dortmund have lost just one of their last 20 Bundesliga games across two seasons (1-2 against Bayern on MD7) and are unbeaten in their last five league matches (W3 D2).

Meanwhile, Hoffenheim have recorded their second-best Bundesliga season with 23 points after 12 games in the 2025-26 campaign, having only amassed more points in 2008-09 (25). Hoffenheim are also unbeaten in their last six league outings (W5 D1).

The Black and Yellow will feel confident on home soil, though. They are unbeaten in their last nine Bundesliga home games (W7 D2), having won only one of their previous seven such matches (W1 D3 L3).

But they are coming up against one of the strongest teams on the road; Hoffenheim are the joint-best away team in this Bundesliga season, with 14 points (level with Dortmund, who have played one more away game).

Additionally, they are unbeaten in their last eight away games in the top-flight (W4 D4).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Borussia Dortmund – 56.3%

Draw – 21.6%

Hoffenheim – 22.1%