Big chances on both sides
Spectacular attacking minutes from both teams followed. After a positional mistake by Florian Grillitsch, Stuttgart’s Tiago Tomas was free on the right and put the ball across to Chris Führich, who had run with him. The missed free-standing in Hoffenheim’s five-meter area (19th).
In direct return, Benjamin Hübner appeared completely free in front of Florian Müller, but could not overcome the VfB keeper. Pavel Kaderabek, who was involved in many Hoffenheim offensive actions, hit the rebound on the crossbar. It stayed 0-0 (21st).
A few minutes later, the guests had their next chance, who repeatedly managed to get the ball out of their own half: After a free-kick cross from Hiroki Ito, Omar Marmoush got the ball in front of his feet. Hoffenheim’s Oliver Baumann was able to parry the not entirely precise shot.
Mangala has to go – TSG goal doesn’t count
The next injury shock followed for the guests: Orel Mangala had to leave the field in the 37th minute. Philipp Förster came in for him. In the following, the hosts were able to establish themselves a little in the Stuttgart half and created further chances through Christoph Baumgartner (39th) and Kramaric (41st).
In the 43rd minute the ball wriggled in the net. But the goal from Hoffenheim’s Benjamin Hübner was preceded by an offside position by Georginio Rutter. Referee Matthias Jöllenbeck rightly didn’t give the goal – so it went 0-0 at the break.
Geiger has to go – Stuttgart scores
After the break, Hoffenheim returned to the pitch unchanged. For the guests, Sasa Kalajdzic came on for Chris Führich. A few minutes later, TSG also had to change for the first time: Dennis Geiger, who had already received a hit to the head at the beginning of the game, went down again after a contact in his own penalty area and had to be carried away on a stretcher. Sebastian Rudy came in for him.
Sasa Kalajdzic extended the subsequent corner from Omar Marmous. At the second post, Wataru Endo was able to escape Hoffenheim’s David Raum and get the ball over the line to make it 1-0 (58′). Hoffenheim then needed a little less than ten minutes to recover from the shock before Ihlas Bebou had the first big chance to equalize. But his header was too unplaced (67th).
Baumgartner scores twice
Sebastian Hoeneß tried to provide even more offensive power with Jacob Bruun Larsen (for Rutter), but someone else scored the goal: Christoph Baumgartner dribbled past Tiago Tomas in the penalty area and completed the goal fantastically to equalize (85′).
But that’s not all. Shortly before the end Bruun Larsen’s cross reaches Konstantinos Mavropanos, who cannot clear the ball. Christoph Baumgartner, who was lurking behind him, made it free-standing to make it 2-1.
Source: SWR