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Professionals, 19. November 2020

“I’m expecting an intensive game”

After three successive draws, Pellegrino Matarazzo wants VfB to extend their unbeaten league run to seven matches with victory over his former club.

Prior to Thursday, Pellegrino Matarazzo had been without six international players – including Nicolas Gonzalez, who scored his first two goals for Argentina in World Cup qualifiers against Paraguay and Peru. With just two days to go until Saturday’s Baden-Württemberg derby at TSG Hoffenheim (kick-off 15:30 CET), the question of personnel was high on the agenda at Thursday’s pre-match press conference.

For the most part, VfB’s head coach had good news to report: “There’s no concern whatsoever about coronavirus,” he said. “So far, everyone’s been tested negative – both with their national teams and here in Stuttgart. Orel Mangala and Wataru Endo are returning today, while Nicolas Gonzalez and Sasa Kalajdzic will be back training with us tomorrow after negative tests. We’re also awaiting a negative result with Borna Sosa and Darko Churlinov, but we expect them to return to training on Friday,” explained Matarazzo.

Opponents Hoffenheim – Matarazzo’s last club before joining VfB nearly a year ago – were forced to quarantine their entire squad until Monday and are expected to be without half a dozen players, all of whom have tested positive. “Of course it’s a shame that so many players have been ruled out. You want to see two teams at full strength,” said the VfB boss, who nonetheless expects a difficult encounter against tough opposition. “We can’t underestimate the quality and depth of Hoffenheim’s squad. I’m expecting an intensive game which could go either way.”

Aside from long-term absentees Erik Thommy and Konstantinos Mavropanos, Matarazzo will also have to make do without Hamadi Al Ghaddioui (inflammation of the pubic bone) and Momo Cissé (muscle strain) in the coming weeks. Waldemar Anton, however, is back in contention for a place in the starting XI after recovering from ankle ligament damage. “Marc Kempf will probably play on the left of the back three,” revealed Matarazzo. “There are three players vying for the other two defensive positions.”