25th matchday completed
© Imago
The 1st FC Heidenheim continues after a tie at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim in the fight for remaining class. The TSG and the guests from Heidenheim separated 1-1 (1-0) at the end of the 25th match day in the Bundesliga.
Heidenheim remains the bottom of the table and now has four points behind the relegation place. In addition, coach Frank Schmidt’s horror series continues: the Heidenheimers have been winning without a win for nine Bundesliga games. Hoffenheim is 16 after the draw as the 13th six points and is also still in the relegation battle.
Striker Haris Tabakovic put the TSG in the lead in front of 20,814 spectators (34th minute). The Heidenheimers rewarded themselves with one point for an increase in performance after the break by a dream goal of the substitute ex-Karlsruher Budu Zivzivadze (65th).
Before the game there was a first moment of terror for the TSG. Left -back Alexander Prass injured himself when warming up. For him, Valentin Gendrey moved into the starting eleven. After the spectators had thought of the victims of the death trip in Mannheim on the last Rose Monday before kick -off, the Hoffenheimers had to accept the next setback in the early stages. Defensive player Diadié Samassékou injured his thigh and had to be replaced by Kevin Akpoguma (5th).
Otherwise, very little happened on the square. Both teams played uninspired and radiated hardly any risk of scoring. Hoffenheim’s goalkeeper Oliver Baumann, who played his 350th Bundesliga game for TSG, and Heidenheim’s goalkeeper Kevin Müller were virtually unemployed for a long time. That changed when Tabakovic headed the ball over Müller after a long throw -in from Gendrey. “We expect him to use him, of course, that he has presence in the box, even if we come across the side,” TSG coach Christian Ilzer said at the streaming service “DAZN” before the game about Tabakovic. The striker was in the Kraichgauer starting eleven for the first time since December 1st.
Just a short time after the 1-0, Sturm partner Gift Orban had the great opportunity for double striking after a sparkling clean counter and template from Tabakovic. But the 22-year-old put his degree from a promising position somewhat hasty over the gate (40th). And the Heidenheimer? They only had their first chance after the change of sides in the 52nd minute. However, the captain failed by drop kick on the strongly reacting Baumann (52). The FCH increased and became more active. ZivziVadze rewarded the attack efforts with a soulful Schlenzer, it was his first goal for the Heidenheimers.
The guests then stayed on the trigger and were now much closer to the victory. But either the precision or TSG keeper Baumann was missing on the spot, as was the case with a conclusion of the substitute Paul Wanner from a short distance (76.).
