Leverkusen Vs Hoffenheim .

In a Bundesliga showdown with major implications for both the title race and the battle against relegation, reigning champions Bayer Leverkusen will host Hoffenheim at BayArena this Sunday.

Leverkusen, currently in second place with 42 points—six adrift of league leaders Bayern Munich—were held to a 2-2 draw by RB Leipzig on January 25. Meanwhile, Hoffenheim, struggling near the relegation zone in 15th place with just 18 points, also secured a 2-2 draw against Eintracht Frankfurt on the same date.

Leverkusen will undoubtedly feel a sense of frustration over their recent result against Leipzig. The match had seemed well in their control, with Die Schwarzroten racing to a 2-0 lead by the 36th minute. However, despite their dominance, they conceded twice from an expected goals (xG) tally of just 0.73, leaving them to rue the missed opportunity to close the gap on Bayern.

Head coach Xabi Alonso might argue that his team has been somewhat unfortunate defensively this season. Despite conceding 26 goals in the Bundesliga so far, their opponents have only generated around 20 xG. This disparity suggests that Leverkusen have been on the receiving end of clinical finishing from their rivals rather than consistent defensive frailties.

Their continental campaign, however, has been much smoother. Leverkusen secured automatic qualification for the Champions League round of 16 with a 2-0 victory over Sparta Prague on Wednesday. Having finished sixth in their group, they now await a knockout stage clash against one of Manchester City, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, or Celtic—a daunting challenge regardless of the opponent.

Leverkusen have been prolific in attack this season, particularly in the Bundesliga, netting 25 times in their last nine top-flight matches. While their recent form across all competitions shows a mixed bag—one win, one draw, and one loss in their last three outings—prior to that stretch, they had been unstoppable, winning 11 consecutive matches.

Their home record this season has been nothing short of spectacular. The BayArena has been a fortress, with the team winning 13 of their 16 home fixtures so far, suffering just one defeat and one draw in that period. In fact, they are currently enjoying an eight-game winning streak in front of their supporters, a run they will be eager to extend against Hoffenheim.

For their part, Hoffenheim will feel they should have secured victory against Eintracht Frankfurt in their last match. They created three clear-cut chances, struck the woodwork twice, and fired 16 shots from inside the penalty area, but ultimately had to settle for a frustrating 2-2 draw.

Their last encounter with Leverkusen was a humbling experience. When the two sides met on September 14, Die Kraichgauer were comprehensively outplayed, suffering a 4-1 defeat. The statistics from that game paint a bleak picture for Hoffenheim—they conceded over 3.5 xG, allowed five big chances, and faced a total of 20 shots.

Christian Ilzer's men were in European action on Thursday, securing a thrilling 4-3 victory over Anderlecht in their final Europa League league-phase fixture. However, despite the win, it was not enough to keep their continental journey alive. A 27th-place finish in the league standings meant they were eliminated from the tournament, adding to their growing list of setbacks this season.

That said, Ilzer has managed to oversee a minor upturn in form. Hoffenheim have won two of their last four fixtures, equaling the number of victories they had achieved in their previous 14 matches combined. While this resurgence offers some optimism, the team's overall inconsistency remains a pressing concern.

Their away form has also been a curious mix of extremes. On the one hand, they have emerged victorious in their last two road games, scoring seven goals while conceding four. On the other hand, prior to this brief revival, they had failed to win any of their previous 12 away matches, suffering seven defeats and drawing five times in that stretch.

Given their struggles against Leverkusen in recent meetings and their ongoing defensive vulnerabilities, Hoffenheim will need to deliver an exceptional performance to stand any chance of securing a result at the BayArena. For Leverkusen, this fixture represents an opportunity to maintain pressure on Bayern Munich and continue their formidable home streak. With both teams desperate for points for vastly different reasons, an intense and high-stakes encounter is on the cards this Sunday.