The 2025/26 Bundesliga season will usher in the sixth round of the battle, and Hoffenheim will host newly promoted Cologne at home. Coach Ilze said at the press conference that Cologne is a tough opponent, but also insisted that his team is ready for a fierce battle.

In the last round, Hoffenheim drew 1-1 with Freiburg away from home thanks to a goal from Fisnik Asllani. Currently, Hoffenheim is in 10th place in the standings with 7 points, having won 2, drawn 1, and lost 2 of their last 5 matches.

In addition, Cologne is currently ranked 7th in the standings and lost 1-2 to Stuttgart at home in the last game.

When talking about their upcoming opponent Cologne, Hoffenheim coach Ilze said, "We expect to face an opponent that created a huge sensation when they were promoted and has performed very well so far. We are ready for a fierce battle. Cologne makes every opponent feel difficult to deal with. Their coach has the team show a good image in different stages of the game. They play selflessly, which makes Cologne a very difficult opponent."

"We hope to have a great October, but hope alone won't get us any points. In the Bundesliga, winning a game is never a given. It all comes down to whether we are fully prepared. If we work together on the pitch and support each other in the locker room and off the pitch, then we have a good chance of continuing our good momentum."

Ilze continued, "Whether at home or away, our goal is always to win. We have been talking about this for a while, and we want to prove on the court that the team is ready for a tough game."

“We concede too many goals from set pieces, but at the same time we concede very few goals in open play. That’s one of the areas we’re focusing on. We’ve made good progress in that area and the next step is to get better at set pieces.”

When talking about the team's lineup situation, Ilze said, "Tim Lemperer has recovered and he has finally gotten rid of the muscle injury. We now have a complete lineup to choose from. Except for players with long-term injuries, all players can play."

"Ozan Kabak has overcome a long-term injury, but it's normal to have minor flare-ups from time to time. We need to make sure he prioritizes training for now and he will be back in the squad after the international break. After such a long absence, his reintegration must be done gradually."