Football Season Guide

Pellegrino Matarazzo steered Hoffenheim to safety last season despite losing his first five games in charge. Previous boss Andre Breitenreiter was sacked in February with the club in freefall and conceding goals at an alarming rate. They eventually got their act together and finished in 12th position. The Kraichgauer will be quietly confident of a good season ahead after some interesting new signings during the summer. The departure of Baumgartner to Leipzig is a blow but he was expected to move on sooner rather than later. Hoffenheim have been dangerous going forward in recent years but there was a noticeable drop-off last season. Matarazzo has looked to address this with the loan signing of Wout Weghorst from Burnley. He may have struggled during his time in England, but he has excelled in the Bundesliga previously with Wolfsburg. Marius Butler should also add goals and assists and is another that has proven himself at this level. He was a standout performer for Schalke last season despite their relegation. A fully fit Grischa Promel and the return of the graceful Florian Grillitsch should bring some calm and control back to the centre of the park. Andrej Kramaric has also taken on a more deeper role in the twilight of his career so you feel the midfield is an area where Hoffenheim could be strong. Matarazzo is likely to continue with an offensive approach and that will naturally leave them slightly vulnerable defensively. However, the purchase of tough-tackling Hungarian international Attlia Szalai should help to make them stronger in that department.