TSG 1899 Hoffenheim host Borussia Dortmund at the PreZero Arena on 5 September 2026 and neither team arrives in quite the same mood. Hoffenheim sit 13th after matchday one, pointless following a 2-3 home defeat to Köln that already leaves them needing a response, while Dortmund are fifth with three points from a clean sheet win over Hamburg. The visitors finished second last season conceding just 34 goals.
Ilzer and Kovač have not met as managers before, which makes the stylistic contrast between them all the more interesting to watch play out. Ilzer took charge at Hoffenheim in November 2024 and built around high intensity pressing, whereas Kovač arrived at Dortmund in February 2025 and moved in the opposite direction, prioritising structure and defensive compactness. One wants chaos and the other wants control and this match will partly be a test of which philosophy wins out.
Hoffenheim showed attacking promise in a 4-0 DFB Pokal win over Aue before the season started but the opening Bundesliga loss to Köln was more instructive. Opponents who got in behind the press found space and Ilzer's side paid for it, the 2-3 scoreline at home suggesting the system struggles badly when the press is beaten. Dortmund were composed against Hamburg, the 2-0 win telling you more about their defensive shape than the scoreline suggests, with Kovač's backline giving up nothing throughout.
Ilzer has two players to worry about: Fisnik Asllani is doubtful with knee and fitness concerns and Alexander Prass carries a muscular problem. If both miss out, Hoffenheim lose two first choice starters in positions that matter against a side that presses high defensively. Dortmund's injury list is longer and more damaging: Emre Can is out with a knee injury, Nico Schlotterbeck misses out with an ankle problem and Giannis Konstantelias is sidelined long term with a torn ACL, while Samuele Inácio serves a suspension after his red card against Hamburg and Ramy Bensebaini is doubtful with a rib injury, stripping a lot of experience from the centre of the team.
Hoffenheim will likely line up in a 4-4-2, pressing high and looking to use Patrick Wimmer's runs wide on the left to stretch Dortmund's shape. Adam Hlozek holds defenders up and runs in behind. Without Asllani and Prass, Ilzer will probably lean on his full backs to provide width and combine in the final third, which works when Hoffenheim are in rhythm but can leave them badly exposed if they lose the ball in poor positions.
Dortmund typically use a 3-4-2-1 that gives them defensive cover through three centre backs while allowing the wing backs to push up. Serhou Guirassy leads the line and waits to punish turnovers, with Jobe Bellingham driving forward from midfield to support him. When that combination clicks, it leaves a Hoffenheim backline, already under pressure from their own narrow shape, badly exposed. The absences pile up in defence and central midfield but Kovač's compact system limits what Hoffenheim can do in transition. If Wimmer and Hlozek get time on the ball before Dortmund's midfield line sets, Hoffenheim will create but if they don't, Guirassy waits.
Dortmund have historically dominated this fixture, though Hoffenheim's 2-1 home win in April 2026 is recent enough to matter. Set pieces could swing things further given Dortmund's defensive absences: Hoffenheim will target the visiting backline from dead balls and without Schlotterbeck and Can, it's unclear who takes responsibility at the back post. Dortmund have generally been solid at set pieces under Kovač but this feels like a match where those routines will be tested. If Ilzer's side push bodies forward after going behind, the space in behind opens up for Guirassy and Bellingham to exploit on the counter.
Expect Dortmund to win 3-0. Hoffenheim's need to push forward after their opening defeat creates exactly the space Guirassy and Bellingham thrive in and Hoffenheim conceding two or three on the counter or from set pieces fits what both teams showed in week one.
Ryan Baldi
Football Writer
Ryan Baldi is a professional football writer with years of experience and has been featured by respected outlets such as the BBC, The Guardian, Sky Sports, DAZN, FourFourTwo, ESPN, Yahoo Sport and Football365. He has also written several books including Arsène Who?.
