Redemption: 1899 turn it around against Schalke

It was clear that 1899 Hoffenheim had learnt their lesson after the disappointing quarterfinal defeat to Energie Cottbus, but Pezzaiuoli only made two changes to his side. New signing Ryan Babel started up front again, while compatriot Edson Braafheid, another recent signing, had to be content with a place on the bench. Elsewhere Sejad Salihovic and Vedad Ibisevic eturned to the starting line-up as Gylfi Sigurdsson and Tobias Weis dropped to the bench. Felix Magath opted to counteract 1899's 4-3-3 formation with a 4-4-2 as he brought in Klaas-Jan Huntelaar to partner Raul up front, while Jefferson Farfan started despite being heavily linked with a move to VfL Wolfsburg during the week.

1899 get out of the blocks quickly

Ahead of the match both teams would have been hoping to improve their league position with a win inside the Veltins-Arena. However, it was the away side that got off to a better start, showing composure on the ball and controlling the game in the opening exchanges and on 4 minutes they made it count to put Schalke on the back foot early on. Following back-to-back corners Sejad Salihovic's second delivery was met by the high rising Isaac Vorsah who thumped a header past Manuel Neuer for his third goal of the season. It was just the start the Kraichgau outfit needed.

The goal certainly woke Schalke up as they tried to find an immediate response, but their long ball tactics were not working, which made it easy for Hoffenheim to defend. It was an open and lively affair in front of nearly 61,000 fans and chances fell at either end. The best of which came to Ryan Babel just after the half hour mark. Having been set through on goal by a Salihovic pass and supported by Ibisevic through the middle, the Dutchman, instead of squaring to his wide-open teammate, opted to go for goal himself and saw his effort easily saved by Neuer. Five minutes before half-time and the spotlight was on Babel once again. This time, however, he had an eye for his teammates and found Salihovic, but the finish was again lacking, as the Bosnian couldn't even find the target. It brought an end to an entertaining half with the away team the happier of the two as they went in with a deserved 1-0 lead.

Schalke huff and puff, but can't blow 1899 down

Felix Magath can't have been content with his sides first half performance and jumped into action by making two changes during the break, while Pezzaiuoli left his side unchanged. However, the changes had little impact as 1899 put on a defensive master class in the second half and the began just where they left off, in front of goal. A minute after the restart Ibisevic got the by-line and found an unmarked Salihovic with his pull back, but he got his shot all wrong and sent the ball past the post when he really should have extended the lead. 3 minutes later it was Babel's turn again to squander an opportunity. It was good work from Vukcevic as he played a delightful ball through to the Dutch international, unfortunately he dawdled on the ball too long and the chance was gone. Defensively 1899 were allowing Schalke no opportunities whatsoever, apart from corners, to have a shot on goal and compared to their midweek match against Cottbus, were controlled and compact at the back.

On the other end Schalke were regularly left for dead by the pace of the Hoffenheim attack. Babel, despite poor decisions, was thriving on the left on one occasion bursting past three different Schalke players before trying to find Ibisevic in the middle. Indecently this was a situation where selfishness may have benefited the 24-year old. The Royal Blues were trying their best to break down the back four and with 20 minutes remaining were pushing forward with purpose, but to no avail as the Kraichgau outfit sniffed out any and all danger. In matches earlier in the season, Hoffenheim's lack of killer instinct would have cost them as they had so many chances, including three for Babel, to extend the lead. The third chance for Dutchman came right at the end as he drifted into the middle from the right and hit a rasping effort towards goal that Neuer was again equal to. There were no nervy moments for Pezziuoli's men as they saw out the match comfortably to record their first win since the winter break and the first under Marco Pezzaiuoli.

 

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