Derby win! Modeste and Elyounoussi fire TSG to victory

Tactics and line-up:

Markus Gisdol was forced into making three changes to the side that drew 1-1 with Wolfsburg last week. Sejad Salihovic (knee), Ermin Bicakcic (muscle tear) and Adam Szalai (on the bench following tonsillitis) all made way, with Steven Zuber, Tarik Elyounoussi and debutant Pirmin Schwegler coming into the side. There was only one change for VfB Stuttgart, with Daniel Didavi replacing former TSG striker Vedad Ibisevic.

The changes to the Hoffenheim side also resulted in changes to the formation. Sebastian Rudy was moved to right back, a position he recently played for Germany, with the incoming Schwegler playing alongside Polanski in holding midfield. Tobias Strobl moved into the centre-back role in the absence of Bicakcic. Zuber, who was making his first start, and Elyounoussi were deployed on the wings, whilst Firmino took up his preferred position behind striker Modeste.

Highlights:

9th minute: First chance of the game falls to Stuttgart. A cross from the left by Sakai finds the head of Harnik at the back post, but his well-placed effort is saved by Baumann.

15th minute: GOOOOAAAAALLLLLL for Hoffenheim!! A free kick from Sebastian Rudy is whipped into the box and finds Anthony Modeste, who gives Hoffenheim the lead with an accurate header into the bottom right-hand corner.

61st minute: A good spell of play for Stuttgart. Werner cuts inside onto his right, but his powerful effort goes just over Baumann's goal.

70th minute: Great chance for Stuttgart! The ball is bobbling around in the Hoffenheim box but no one from VfB is able to apply the finishing touch.

80th minute: End-to-end stuff in this derby game! Hoffenheim go close to scoring a second but a goal-bound shot is inadvertently blocked by TSG man Modeste. Stuttgart then go straight up the other end, but Kostic scuffs his chance wide.

81st minute: Another chance for Stuttgart to equalise! Maxim's close-range shot is well blocked by a Hoffenheim defender.

84th minute: GOOOOOAAAAALLLLLL for TSG!! Hoffenheim break three-on-two and Volland plays in Elyounoussi, whose first effort is saved by an onrushing Ulreich, but he makes no mistake with the second attempt, putting the ball into an empty net.

89th minute: Nearly a goal back for Stuttgart! A cross takes a couple of deflections off the Hoffenheim defence and the ball goes narrowly past the far post and out for a corner.

Moment of the match:

Cool, cool Oliver Baumann: In the 34th minute, a long pass looks to have created a very dangerous moment for the visitors, but the TSG keeper cleverly positioned himself between the ball and Didavi, allowing the danger to pass.

The TSG players in general were very calm throughout the whole game, one of the reasons behind their success.

Number of the game: 4

After four Bundesliga games, TSG have a goal difference of +4 and are unbeaten. Markus Gisdol's team can be very happy with that, and also with the eight points that they've picked up so far. Plus, eight is simply four times two…

Match facts and statistics »