The last game of the 29th matchday was decided after 45 minutes. Lawn ball sport Leipzig gave the opponent from Hoffenheim no chance – and thus distanced a competitor in the fight for the premier class.
Lawn ball sport Leipzig has underpinned its ambitions to play in the Champions League again next year. Coach Domenico Tedesco’s team clearly defeated TSG Hoffenheim 3-0 (3-0). Christopher Nkunku (5th), Marcel Halstenberg (20th) and Dominik Szoboszlai ensured clear conditions in the first round.
Due to the clear success, the Bulls are now increasing their chances of being represented internationally in the coming season. Leipzig is currently in fourth place with 51 points and a full seven points ahead of Union Berlin in seventh place (44 points). Hoffenheim, on the other hand, also have 44 points and are only ahead of Köpenicker thanks to the better goal difference Saturday furiously won the derby at Hertha. So TSG has to worry about international business again.
That’s how the game went
In front of 35,112 spectators, coach Tedesco changed five positions compared to the Bergamo first leg. In addition to Halstenberg, who had been plagued by injury for a long time and was called up for the first time after 323 days, Szoboszlai and Emil Forsberg, among others, replaced the frequent players Dani Olmo and Andre Silva up front. But early on, Nkunku shone once more, who was the only striker.
After the first cross, a free-kick cross from Szoboszlais, the French international first let Pavel Kaderabek out before shooting into the short corner and celebrating his 17th goal of the season. Referee Bastian Dankert initially ruled that Nkunku was offside, but retracted this after consulting video assistant Benjamin Cortus.
Hoffenheim tried to be more proactive
After the lead, Leipzig got Hoffenheim well under control, who were missing numerous players due to yellow card suspensions, corona infections and injuries – and remained dangerous. After a counterattack, the ball got through detours to Halstenberg, who had started, who aimed for the far post in the penalty area and hit it. Just before the break, Nkunku passed a cross from Mohamed Simakan to Szoboszlai, who only had to push in in the middle.
After the change, Hoffenheim, coach Sebastian Hoeneß had switched from a three-man to a four-man chain, tried to be more proactive. Leipzig counterattacked and let the guests do their thing, but they often had problems getting really dangerous in front of the RB goal.