TSG Hoffenheim celebrates staying up: Kramaric with 100th Bundesliga goal

Kramaric with 100th Bundesliga goal

Coach Pellegrino Matarazzo and double goalscorer Andrej Kramaric could hardly save themselves from the hugs of the onrushing fans. On the penultimate day of the Bundesliga, TSG 1899 Hoffenheim secured relegation with a 4-2 (2-1) win over 1. FC Union Berlin – a happy ending after a disappointing round for the former European Cup aspirant. “That was the toughest season I’ve ever played – especially mentally,” said a visibly upset but also relieved Kramaric.

With his number eleven and twelve goals this season, the World Cup runner-up in 2018 and third in the 2022 World Cup played a large part in the important home win. In front of 30,150 fans in the sold-out Sinsheim stadium, the 31-year-old Croatian scored a penalty kick (36th minute) and made it 3-1 (90th). It was his Bundesliga goals 99 and 100 for his longtime club.

While the Berliners trotted disappointedly into the guest curve, all dams broke at Hoffenheim when supporters ran out of the south curve onto the lawn. “When the pressure is highest, you can celebrate the greatest emotions. When the fans run onto the pitch and the players and coaches celebrate, it’s good for the heart,” said Matarazzo. André Breitenreiter’s successor had started his mission in the Kraichgau with five defeats in a row and was almost dismissed as a result.

Hoffenheim’s Rosen: Relegation “an explosion of relief”

“It was an explosion of relief,” said sports director Alexander Rosen about the scenes after the final whistle. Hoffenheim is now spared an explosive final in the relegation battle: TSG has to go to Matarazzo’s former club VfB Stuttgart on matchday 34, which in turn is being coached by former Hoffenheim head coach Sebastian Hoeneß and is still fighting to stay up.

“I can very well do without a highly emotional endgame,” Rosen had emphasized before the kick-off on “Sky”. After that, a lot of pressure fell off him. “We are now going into our 16th year in the Bundesliga, which is simply an outstanding achievement for this location,” said the 44-year-old despite many setbacks this season. Grischa Prömel, who had been injured for a long time and was promoted to the upper house with Union in 2019, also cheered with the fans. “You could tell that a huge load had fallen throughout the stadium. We were already beaten for many, but we fought our way back,” said the midfielder.

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