Last gasp derby defeat

Ralf Rangnick started his side in a 4-4-2 formation, a difference to their last match against Hamburg, making three changes in the process. Obasi, Salihovic and Weis made way for Vukcevic, Sigurdsson and Ibertsberger, who slotted in at left back allowing Luis Gustavo to return to the midfield.

Sigurdsson with a scorcher

It took a long time for the match to get going with the first real chance coming in the 21st minute. Boris Vukcevic, making his first start of the season, got down the right hand flank and crossed into the middle. The ball fell to Sigurdsson on the edge of the area and his first time effort crashed off the crossbar, but unfortunately for 1899, back into play. As Hoffenheim tried to engineer further chances Freiburg were proving dangerous on the counter. However, the Hoffenheim back four were doing a good job of keeping Demba Cisse in check, whose best effort in the first half flew harmlessly over the bar. The pace of the game picked up towards the end of the first half, with Hoffenheim committing more men forward, while Freiburg dropped deeper looking to counter attacks and dead ball situations for their chances. It was indeed a dead ball situation that brought the first save out of Daniel Haas in the Hoffenheim goal, saving well after Jan Rosenthal got his head on the free-kick. With chances coming at a premium referee Felix Zwayer sent the teams in level at half-time.

Same old story

The second half began much like the first, with neither team willing to commit men forward and while Hoffenheim were keeping a close eye on Demba Cisse, Freiburg were making sure Demba Ba wasn't getting away from them. The first decent chance fell to Vukcevic in the 65th minute, but his shot from 17 meters was easily saved and was his last contribution to the match, as Salihovic and Ibisevic replaced the youngster and Peniel Mlapa. Then in the 77th minute Demba Ba, who had been quiet all match, was put clean through on Baumann and the keeper again came out on top with Hoffenheim fans shouting for it to be finished. Their inability to kill the match off whilst in control, something Rangnick was hoping his men could work on, again proved to cost them in the end. Out of absolutely nothing, Luis Gaustavo, who is normally so reliable, gave the ball away sloppily in the midfield allowing Reisinger to initiate the counter. Cisse was set through on goal and the man in form didn't disappoint taking two steps before slotting home for the win and his tenth of the season. It was a bitter pill to swallow for Hoffenheim as they fail to make their chances pay again.

 

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