Topping the table is possible, Borussia Dortmund is coming as a guest: A special Bundesliga evening awaits TSG Hoffenheim. This is not just due to the sporting constellation.
The thought of a possible league lead as the culmination of a great football evening left Pellegrino Matarazzo completely cold. When asked what first place would mean to him after the game against Borussia Dortmund, the TSG Hoffenheim coach said: “Nothing at all. At this stage of the season we are purely chasing points. Place in the table doesn’t matter at all. That’s what counts in the end the season.” After four Bundesliga wins in a row, his team doesn’t need any extra motivation on Friday evening (8:30 p.m.) at the start of the sixth matchday.
Matarazzo himself outlined the situation quite precisely. “I look forward to every Bundesliga game. I’m grateful for my job. But when you play at home, on Friday evening, under the lights and against Borussia Dortmund: then the anticipation is even greater.” In the exceptionally sold-out Sinsheim Arena, not only the sporting experience will be special, but also everything surrounding it.
Goosebumps and farewell
The club says goodbye in Sebastian Rudy (33) and Ermin Bicakcic (33), two long-time figureheads of the club, with whom the TSG was unable to agree on further employment in the summer. “It’s well deserved to say goodbye like that. I also had my time with both players. Ermin is an emotional guy who leads the way. Both are very important players for TSG’s history,” said Matarazzo. The former national player Rudy declared his end as a professional footballer on Thursday after he was last without a club.
After stints at VfB Stuttgart, FC Schalke 04, record champions FC Bayern Munich and several times in Hoffenheim, Rudy announced the end of his career in an interview. “I still enjoy football, I won’t give it up. I’m on the lookout a bit and watch one or two district league games,” announced the midfielder. On Friday evening he will first watch the promising start to the matchday of two Bundesliga teams who can temporarily take the top spot in the league with a win.
Focus on BVB
While there is currently a lot of talk about Stuttgart (with striker Serhou Guirassy), Leverkusen and Leipzig, TSG seems to be flying under the radar. Matarazzo has no problems with this after a difficult season with relegation concerns. “I’m not even worried about it. I’m happy about our winning streak and looking forward to more. We’re totally focused on tomorrow’s game,” said the coach. In terms of personnel, the appearances of Wout Weghorst and Florian Grillitsch are questionable.
The 45-year-old coach has great alternatives in the attack anyway. In addition to World Cup third place player Andrej Kramaric, who was used as a playmaker Young star Maximilian Beier stuck in the starting line-up. Four goals in the first five Bundesliga goals brought Beier into the spotlight so much that he was already named as a candidate for national coach Julian Nagelsmann this week.
Not more headlines for Beier
Matarazzo tried to capture the issue publicly. “I am of the opinion that Maxi no longer needs a headline in this direction. I am looking forward to his further development,” said Matarazzo. He claimed that he had “not spoken to Julian (Nagelsmann) about this topic at all.” Against Dortmund, Beier should again get one of the two starting eleven places at the top. It seems rather unclear whether the ailing Weghorst or Ihlas Bebou will start next to him.
