Borussia Dortmund vs Hoffenheim predictions: BVB to make home advantage count

Bundesliga fans could be in for a treat on Friday as fourth-placed Hoffenheim travel to fifth-placed Borussia Dortmund.

Both sides have nine points from their opening four games in the competition and it promises to be a fascinating battle between two teams that harbour hopes of finishing in the top four.

Team news

Borussia Dortmund boss Edin Terzic remains without striker Sebastien Haller after his summer move from Ajax. The former West Ham United frontman is undergoing chemotherapy to remove a testicular tumour and the club have yet to confirm a return date for the powerful forward.

Mahmoud Dahoud is struggling with a shoulder injury but Dortmund could have both Mateu Morey and Donyell Malen back in the squad for Friday's tie.

Hoffenheim's Ihlas Bebou remains sidelined until the middle of September due to a sprained knee, while the game should also come too soon for Benjamin Hubner, who is battling an ankle issue.

The pair may be joined on the sidelines by Ermin Bicakcic and Philipp Pentke, who are both lacking fitness after recent spells in the medical room.

The stats

Borussia Dortmund have lost just one of their first four league games this season, with Werder Bremen the only team to register a win against them.

Bremen managed to come back from 2-0 to win 3-2 at Signal Iduna-Park after scoring three goals between the 89th minute and the 95th. However, Dortmund responded by beating Hertha Berlin 1-0 last time out.

Hoffenheim started the Bundesliga campaign with a 3-1 defeat to Borussia Monchengladbach but they have since won three matches on the spin against Bochum, Bayer Leverkusen and Augsburg.

Dortmund did the double over Hoffenheim last season for the first time ever to end a run of just one win from their seven previous meetings with the Sinsheim outfit. 

A third win in a row would create more history but Hoffenheim are enjoying their second-best start to a Bundesliga campaign.

Prediction

Both games between these two sides last season ended 3-2 to Dortmund and the history books suggest a close game could be on the cards once again.

Five of the last six meetings have been settled by one goal or fewer and Dortmund will feel they have enough quality to get the job done on home soil.

While they were beaten by Bremen last time out at home, Terzic's troops have won six in 10 at home.

They kept a clean sheet against Bayer Leverkusen on the opening weekend of the campaign and they will be desperate to make amends after their embarrassing collapse against Bremen. A narrow home win appears the likely outcome.