TSG Hoffenheim can’t get past a 0-0 draw against FCSB Bucharest in Europe. The point means the Kraichgauers initially move up to 24th place and would therefore be in the playoffs.
The Hoffenheim team had big plans against the leaders of the Romanian league and had their first chance in the second minute of the game. Jacob Bruun Larsen missed from 13 meters after a remarkable vertical pass from Anton Stach while trying to beat Bucharest keeper Ștefan Târnovanu. The Kraichgauer team managed to score several goals in the early stages thanks to high starts and quick, direct play in midfield.
The guests then also tried to press higher and had their first opportunity to score in the tenth minute of the game: Vlad Chiricheş’s shot from around 18 meters went well past Oliver Baumann’s goal.
Hoffenheim controls the game, but has hardly any chances
Hoffenheim controlled the game more and more as the first half progressed. The guests from Bucharest let themselves fall deeper into their own half, knowing that they already had 10 points in their account. Both Andrej Kramaric – who has already played his 20th competitive game this season and whose contract is automatically extended by one year – and Tom Bischof played a lot of games in the host team during this phase, but there were no major opportunities.
Baumann saves against Şut – Bruun Larsen missed Half-time lead
Even the guests, who had to do without their suspended top scorer Daniel Birligea, barely got in front of the Hoffenheim goal – until the 36th minute of the game. After a pass from Darius Olaru, the TSG defense was missing. Adrian Şut dived completely free in front of Oliver Baumann. His central shot landed on the knee of the Hoffenheim keeper and then hit him in the face. After a short treatment he was able to continue. Bruun Larsen missed the lead for the home team after a precise cross shortly before the half-time whistle. So it went into the dressing room 0-0.
New striker: Moerstedt for Hložek
For the second half, Christian llzer brought Max Moerstedt in for the mostly pale Adam Hložek and hoped that this would result in more activity in the forward line. The game hardly changed as a result. Bucharest continued to stand deep and Hoffenheim tried to break the defensive barrier. A shot from Anton Stach from just over 20 meters was the only finish at the start of the second half (55th).
After a Hoffenheim double substitution (Geiger for Bischof and Akpoguma for Chaves), it was Stach again who got the ball in the penalty area. However, his shot from the penalty spot, which should have been the lead, went over the goal (67th). Two minutes later, Moerstedt also missed the lead after a cross from Pavel Kadeřábek. Târnovanu saved his header with a remarkable save.
Hoffenheim were now clearly superior and deserved to take the lead. Nothing came from the guests at this stage of the game. A good 15 minutes before the end of the game, TSG coach Ilzer brought in a “classic” striker in Haris Tabakovic (for Bruun Larsen) (72nd) and a little later in Alexander Prass (for Dennis Geiger), a proven cross expert (80th). The pressure on the Bucharest defense increased increasingly, but without any tangible success.
Shortly before the end of the game it was almost a cold shower for Hoffenheim. Substitute Alhassan got the ball again after a free kick cross had already been blocked. Baumann parried his dangerous touchdown. Despite a lot of running and significantly more play from Hoffenheim’s perspective, the score remained 0-0 in the end.
Broadcast on Friday, December 13th, 2024 at 6:00 a.m., SWR Aktuell in the morning, SWR Aktuell
