Hoffenheim vs Borussia Dortmund prediction 05.09.2026 | Bundesliga

Hoffenheim made an encouraging start offensively against Köln but ultimately conceded three times in their 3-2 defeat. Christian Ilzer's side finished the match with 59% possession and scored twice, highlighting their ability to create problems despite beginning the season without a point. 

The major concern before the opening weekend involved key attackers Andrej Kramarić and Fisnik Asllani. Kramarić had been recovering from groin surgery, while Asllani was unavailable because of knee inflammation. Alexander Prass was also sidelined through injury, although Adam Hložek had returned to fitness following a lengthy absence. 

Hoffenheim finished fifth in the Bundesliga last season and consequently secured Europa League football for the 2026/27 campaign, underlining the progress made under Ilzer. However, they cannot afford to become too predictable defensively after conceding three goals in their opening fixture.

Dortmund started strongly with a 2-0 victory over Hamburg. Serhou Guirassy opened the scoring before new signing Giannis Konstantelias added the second, although the Greek attacker subsequently suffered a devastating ACL injury and is expected to miss several months. 

BVB also finished their opener with 10 players after Samuele Inácio received a red card. The youngster has subsequently been handed a two-match Bundesliga suspension, ruling him out of the trip to Hoffenheim. 

Despite those setbacks, Dortmund's opening performance offered plenty of positives. They kept a clean sheet and secured three points against Hamburg, giving them an excellent platform for another demanding away fixture.