Hoffenheim vs Stuttgart preview - Rivals look to break poor runs

Hoffenheim and Stuttgart will both be looking to pick up their first win of the new year when they meet in a Baden-Wurttemberg derby this Saturday.

Both local rivals have started 2015 without a victory while Stuttgart have not even scored a goal since mid-December.

However, Stuttgart have at least drawn 0-0 in Cologne to avoid a run of three successive defeats this year - something Hoffenheim have not managed.

Hoffenheim defender Andreas Beck told a press conference: "We certainly imagined making a different start to the second half of the season.

"We have used this week to work intensively on certain things and of course we have spoken a lot among ourselves.

"Now the time has come for us to show that on the field again.

"It's not about looking good, it's about getting the results. That's the priority.

"We've had setbacks in the past under (coach) Markus Gisdol but these have never knocked us down before, and that is how things should be now too."

Hoffenheim's run of defeats has been largely inconsequential to their league position, as they are still in seventh place, but Stuttgart have dropped to the bottom of the table off the back of their poor form.

"I don't like looking at statistics, I just look at the today and the tomorrow," said Stuttgart coach Huub Stevens, whose side have scored only 20 goals in 20 games, the last of which came on December 16.

"What has happened is not so important. Where we are after 34 games of the season, now that is important."

To help lift his side, Stevens is hoping African Nations Cup winner Geoffroy Serey Die can bring his positivity to the club following his arrival from Basle in the winter.

He has finally linked up with his new team-mates following his country's success in Equatorial Guinea and could make his debut on Saturday.