Hoffenheim pair Hajdari and Avdullahu face fitness race ahead of Mainz clash
TSG Hoffenheim defenders Albian Hajdari and Leon Avdullahu are major doubts for the club's Bundesliga return against Mainz 05 this weekend due to injuries sustained on international duty. The club will assess both players later this week to determine their availability for the crucial league fixture.
Hajdari, 22, suffered a cut to the head behind his ear while playing for Kosovo in their 1-0 World Cup qualifying play-off defeat to Türkiye on Tuesday. The severity of the injury remains unclear, with Hoffenheim's medical staff set to make a final decision on his participation on Thursday or Friday. The defender, who can operate at centre-back or right-back, is considered a candidate for the starting lineup or a role from the bench against Mainz, making his potential absence a significant blow for coach Christian Ilzer.
Meanwhile, midfielder Leon Avdullahu is struggling with an ongoing adductor problem that has plagued him since mid-March. The injury has already limited his involvement, and his absence was keenly felt in Hoffenheim's last match before the international break—a heavy 5-0 defeat to RB Leipzig. His lack of presence in the engine room was cited by local reports as a factor in the team's comprehensive loss.
The potential double absence comes at a challenging time for Hoffenheim, who sit in ninth place and are aiming to secure a top-half finish. The match against Mainz, who are just one point and one place below them in the table, carries added importance in the tightly packed mid-section of the Bundesliga. Ilzer will be hoping for positive news from the treatment room as he finalises his plans.
Both Hajdari and Avdullahu were part of the Kosovo squad that narrowly missed out on the 2026 World Cup, falling to Türkiye in the play-off final. Hajdari, a Swiss-born Albanian who represents Kosovo, joined Hoffenheim from FC Lugano in the summer of 2022 and has gradually earned more first-team opportunities this season. Avdullahu, also a Kosovo international, came through the youth ranks at Hoffenheim and has been a squad player for the senior side. Their fitness updates will be closely monitored ahead of Saturday's kick-off at the PreZero Arena.
