Equal on points with Bayern and Dortmund – TSG Hoffenheim is at the top of the Bundesliga table. In focus: attacker Andrej Kramaric.
Andrej Kramaric doesn’t seem to think much of the simple things. “The goal was more difficult than the penalty – but the main thing is that the ball is in,” said the TSG Hoffenheim star striker with a mischievous grin on his face after his autograph session with the fans.
Already the second penalty miss this season
In connection to the 4:1 (0:0) against FSV Mainz 05 the vice world champion had a good laugh in the service of the Kraichgau Bundesliga club, but things initially looked different during the game. When the score was 0-0, Kramaric put a penalty kick wide of the goal (44th minute) – and thus missed the second attempt for the second time from the point in the young season.
However, the Croatian did not want to accept the role of the tragic figure. So the TSG record scorer put his ambitious club on the road to victory with an artistic side kick (53rd) – to his relief: “I’m happy that I was able to help the team with a goal after my missed penalty.”
Starting record for TSG Hoffenheim
The victory against Mainz, who had been outnumbered for a long time, not only helped Hoffenheim to their third home three in a row – and thus to a TSG start record. The club of majority owner Dietmar Hopp has also secured the top of the table with the same number of points as Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund. The Baden derby against SC Freiburg next Sunday will be a top game.
“We need our best performance to survive,” said Hoffenheim coach André Breitenreiter when looking ahead: “However, the table does not play the greatest role. We are on a path that is far from over. It’s about the process .”
Above all, it was about Kramaric. Because despite his goal, the status of the 31-year-old as a penalty taker is shaky. “He has taken very good penalties in the past, now he has missed twice,” said Breitenreiter: “We will discuss what is the right thing to do.”
Mainz 05 has to put up with setbacks
The defeat didn’t really feel right for Mainz. After all, FSV was the better team in front of 20,114 spectators, including national coach Hansi Flick. But two blows to the neck threw coach Bo Svensson’s team, who had won three times in a row at TSG and all previous away games of the current season before the game, off course. The World Cup candidate Jonathan Burkhardt, who played well in the first few minutes, had to leave early (12′). His opponent Kevin Akpoguma had fouled the 22-year-old striker and inflicted a flesh wound on his foot.
Shortly before the break, FSV defender Alexander Hack saw the red card due to an emergency brake (41st). After Kramaric, goals from Grischa Prömel (69′), Munas Dabbur (80′) and Pavel Kaderabek (90’+2′) ensured that Svensson lost to Hoffenheim for the first time (as a player and as a coach). Dominik Kohr’s goal (83rd) didn’t change that.
