This match turns on the first ball beyond Hoffenheim's press and who collects the next contact. Hoffenheim have made strong teams defend repeated box entries, while Bremen have a direct outlet that can skip the first wave. The later phases should reward the side that keeps supplying a receiver after the first attack.
Ilzer's pressure troubled Lyon and held Leverkusen to one shot on target, but Bremen can send an early ball into Füllkrug rather than play through every challenge. His first contact brings Weiser, Grüll, Reis and Chuki into the second ball. Hoffenheim can answer through Asllani, Hložek and Kramarić, especially from wide deliveries and restarts.
Thioune plans to start Füllkrug after his cup substitute appearance, where he scored twice; the starting team is still unconfirmed. Bremen's missing central and defensive cover was already part of their recent responses. Hoffenheim lost Gendrey in the cup, Coufal has a thigh concern after entering that game, and Lemperle played only the first half, so the right-side supply comes with changed personnel.
Hoffenheim should push onto Bremen's first passes, and Bremen can repeatedly get the ball beyond that pressure to a first and second receiver. Their wide runners can then attack the away right side as Hoffenheim's cup workload reaches the later stages. That's why I'm siding with Werder Bremen to make the decisive box entry.
