Hoffenheim still a work in progress
Sinsheim - Having finished in 11th place every season since being promoted to the Bundesliga in 2008, this was the year that 1899 Hoffenheim had earmarked as the point where they would be amongst the clubs challanging for the European places come May.
It has been a difficult first half of the campaign for Hoffenheim, however. A run of poor results led to the dismissal of head coach Markus Babbel, and his successor Marco Kurz will have work to do if pre-season's lofty ambitions are to be met in the Rückrunde.