Tottenham Hotspur's pre-season preparations are nearing their climax, with a double-header of friendlies against Bundesliga side Hoffenheim. Roberto De Zerbi's side will host the German outfit at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday, followed by a behind-closed-doors contest at Hotspur Way the next day. This strategic scheduling allows De Zerbi to experiment with different lineups and assess his squad's fitness ahead of the Premier League's commencement. The Spurs have remained unbeaten in pre-season, but a 1-1 draw with Getafe last Saturday highlights the need for further fine-tuning. The match showcased the importance of squad depth, as players not involved in the initial friendly later participated in an in-house game. Despite these efforts, De Zerbi faces concerns over key players' availability. Micky van de Ven, a potential captain and recent contract signee, has been left out due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury and extended leave after the World Cup. Van de Ven's fitness remains uncertain, but De Zerbi aims to integrate him into the team this weekend. Dominic Solanke and Destiny Udogie, recovering from injury, are also managing their minutes. However, there's positive news with the potential return of Pedro Porro, a World Cup winner, and Mohammed Kudus, who is nearing full fitness after a quad injury. The predicted Tottenham XI for the Hoffenheim friendlies includes Kinsky, Gray, Van Hecke, Senesi, Robertson, Fernandes, Tonali, Maddison, Kudus, Richarlison, and Tel. The matches will be held at 3 pm BST on Saturday, August 15, 2026, at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and viewers can tune in via SPURSPLAY. De Zerbi's cautious approach and strategic lineup changes are pivotal in Tottenham's quest for a strong start to the season, especially with the upcoming Premier League fixtures.
