The replacement weakened TSG Hoffenheim shows a remarkable performance at the RSC Anderlecht. But only if everything had gone perfectly, the TSG Hoffenheim could have reached the playoffs.
TSG Hoffenheim won 4: 3 (1: 1) at the RSC Anderlecht on the eighth matchday of the Europa League. Luis Vazquez put Anderlecht 1-0 on Thursday (January 30, 2025) in the 18th minute. Robin Hranac marked the equalization (41.). After the break, Tim Bischof turned the encounter in favor of the Bundesliga club (54th), David Mokwa followed up shortly afterwards (59.). Adam Hlozek expanded the lead (65th). Keisuke Goto once again provided hope among the Belgians (79th). Ludwig Augustinsson’s 3: 4 caused a heated final phase, but the TSG brought the victory to the finish.
The starting point before the kick -off was clear: Hoffenheim had to win and at the same time hope for slips from the competition. The hosts started in the Lotto Park with a lot of momentum and came to the first opportunity in the 2nd minute by Luis Vazquez, who passed his end past the Hoffenheim goal. The Royal Sporting Club remained dominant in the initial phase and pushed the TSG into its own half.
The Hoffenheimers, who had to do without numerous troubled regulars, came to the first longer possession phases after about ten minutes. The first conclusion recorded in the 18th minute attacker Max Moerstedt, who pushed a cross past the short corner.
Vazquez meets worth seeing
The Belgians cheered in the same minute. Vazquez was sent steeply, prevailed against Robin Hranac and made it 1-0 with a remarkable Schlenzer into the far corner. Luca Philipp, who again represented the injured goalkeeper Oliver Baumannwas without a chance.
Seven minutes later it would have been 2-0, but Anderlecht’s Yari shouted only the post with his 20-meter shot. In this phase, the TSG had to struggle with the poisonous counter pressing of the Belgians. Hlozek, who pulled inwards from the right side and was looking for the conclusion. However, the massive left shot went over the gate (28th).
Afterwards Anderlecht gave the tone again and was always dangerous over the agile left wing Francis Amuzu. The Hoffenheimers came out of nowhere. After a corner of Bishop, Hranac headed massively into the long corner. Killian Sardella was still trying to clarify, but stuck the ball into his own goal.
Bishop and Mokwa accurate, Hlozek adds
The TSG started perfectly in the second round. In the 54th minute, Dennis Geiger played Bishop on the left, who scored with a placed left shot into the far corner for 2: 1 game. Five minutes later, the Hoffenheimers came even better. Mokwa served Moerstedt, who still failed on goalkeeper Mads Kikkenborg. But then the rebound Mokwa in the mesh.
Anderlecht reacted: Vazquez offered the opportunity to restore the Belgians, but the header of the Argentinian stroked past the post (63.). Instead, the TSG struck ice cold again. David Jurasek marched across the left side and served Hlozek, who clarified the three-goal tour (65th).
The team of coach Christian Ilzer stayed on, Moerstedt missed Mokwas Ball only around a foot. Substitute Marius Bülter tried the hoe and presented Kikkenborg with big problems (71.). Moerstedt met a minute later, but from the offside position.
There was hardly anything to see from Anderlecht on this phase on the offensive. And yet it was suddenly only 2: 4 from the point of view of the Belgians because Goto prevailed against Kevin Akpoguma and hit from a short distance. The RSC now threw everything forward again and put a lot of pressure. In the 84th minute, TSG keeper Philipp saved his team from the third goal. It fell shortly afterwards: Augustinsson took a measure of 23 meters and hit exactly into the right corner. It was now heated on the square, Anderlecht ran to, the TSG defended sacrificingly. After seven minutes of stoppage, the Hoffenheimers were able to breathe a sigh of relief.
“We knew that many players were missing. We played a good game. In the end it was a bit tight, that was unnecessary,” said goal scorer Bishop at Nitro: “That gives us a lot of support and good energy for the next games.”
Hoffenheim is guest with the master
Despite the success, the TSG was no longer able to jump among the first 24 teams, which would have entitled to participate in the playoffs.
After leaving the European Cup, the TSG can concentrate on the relegation battle in the Bundesliga. There the Kraichgauer face a high hurdle: On Sunday (02.02.2025), the Hoffenheimers will compete with Meister Bayer Leverkusen from 5:30 p.m.
Prize on Fri., January 31, 2025 6:00 a.m., SWR Currently in the morning, SWR Current
