TSG Hoffenheim has ended its losing streak and has its sights firmly set on the Champions League places again. The team coached by Sebastian Hoeneß defeated Arminia Bielefeld 2-0 (1-0) after four competitive games in a row and caught up with fourth-placed runners-up RB Leipzig on points.
Captain Benjamin Hübner (22nd) and Georginio Rutter (51st) scored the hosts’ goals in front of 10,000 spectators. This ended a six-game unbeaten run for Bielefeld. Coach Frank Kramer’s team is 15th in the table. still level on points with FC Augsburg on the relegation rank.
“I’m super happy. If we played the counterattack better, it could have gone even higher,” said Hübner on “DAZN”.
Hoffenheim immediately took command. Rutter missed the early lead with a free-standing header (14th). Huebner did better. The central defender powerfully headed in a cross from national player David Raum with the help of the bar and the back of goalkeeper Stefan Ortega.
The jubilation was particularly boisterous: Hübner only celebrated his comeback in January after a break of more than a year due to a foot injury. During the week, the central defender had extended his contract, which expires at the end of the season, by a year until summer 2023.
The guests showed little offensively and still almost equalized. Striker Janni Serra found his master in the strong reacting TSG goalkeeper Oliver Baumann (34th).
Rutter already with the 6th goal of the season for Hoffenheim
Hoffenheim remained the clearly better team and pushed for the second goal. Hübner headed over it (37′), Munas Dabbur hit the crossbar (42′). Christoph Baumgartner, who replaced star striker Andrej Kramaric, who was infected with the corona virus, also failed from close range at the strong Ortega (44th).
Bielefeld came out of the dressing room braver and was unlucky when Cedric Brunner (49th) shot the post. TSG seemed unimpressed and scored two minutes later through Rutter. It was the 19-year-old’s sixth goal of the season.
The East Westphalians’ momentum was gone again – and Baumgartner missed the chance to make it 3-0 after an hour. TSG subsequently shifted down a gear.