It was already clear before kick-off: the winner of the game between Hoffenheim and Bremen would end the matchday in seventh place. And TSG won the three points.
TSG Hoffenheim won the duel for Europe against Werder Bremen thanks to double packer Maximilian Beier. The young star, who is also in the sights of national coach Julian Nagelsmann, scored both goals in his TSG’s 2-1 home win in the first half (8th/44th minute).
Bremen’s goal in stoppage time by Joker Skell Alvero came too late (90th + 2nd). A few minutes earlier, Hoffenheim’s Marius Bülter had been shown a yellow-red card after an unwise duel (73′). But even with one man less, Pellegrino Matarazzo’s team managed to win over time.
The Kraichgauers ended the 24th matchday with 33 points in seventh place in the table, which could be enough for the Conference League. Werder remains eighth with 30 points.
That’s how the game went
In front of 25,000 spectators in Sinsheim, Hoffenheim’s Beier and Ihlas Bebou had the lead in the early stages. Then it was the TSG striker who shot directly after a corner from Anton Stach and made it 1-0. Bremen couldn’t get the quick Beier under control at all: a few minutes later, Bebou missed the next chance after his cross.
On the other hand, the Werder strikers Nick Woltemade and Marvin Ducksch were initially barely able to develop because Florian Grillitsch and Umut Tohumcu in particular kept intercepting the guests’ balls. A week after the 3-2 win at Borussia Dortmund and the end of a winless streak of eight league games, the Hoffenheim team seemed liberated and continued to play quickly.
Werder only managed to score the next goal in the majority
Once Werder picked up the pace, things immediately became dangerous: Felix Agu shot over Oliver Baumann’s goal from a tight angle (22′). Shortly afterwards the TSG keeper had to save against Ducksch. In the 39th minute, Baumann was lucky when Ducksch hit the post. The next goal went to Beier again: The U21 national player used a cross from Bebou in a lightning attack to make it 2-0.
Werder had previously only conceded four goals in six second half games. In the entertaining game, Beier was defeated by goalkeeper Michael Zetterer after just under an hour. Beier almost took a penalty, but referee Matthias Jöllenbeck decided against it after video evidence.
Hoffenheim’s Marius Bülter was then shown a yellow-red card for repeated foul play (73′). Werder threw everything forward in the majority, but Baumann parried a shot from Alvero (81′), and Justin Njinmah only hit the side netting (88′). Then Alvero made things exciting with his heel, but the equalizer was no longer achieved.