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TSG shine in win over Paderborn
Personnel & tactics:
Alfred Schreuder, whose charges had won three games on the bounce, kept faith with the defensive set-up that started in Berlin last time out. Goalkeeper Oliver Baumann was protected by a back three of Kevin Vogt, Kevin Akpoguma and Benjamin Hübner, while Pavel Kadeřábek and Robert Skov continued in the wide berths.
Florian Grillitsch and Sebastian Rudy formed a partnership in central defensive midfield behind the more attack-minded Lukas Rupp. He played in the hole behind centre-forwards Jürgen Locadia and Ihlas Bebou, who took Andrej Kramarić's place in the starting XI.
Among the substitutes was 17-year-old Maximilian Beier from the Hoffenheim U19 team, who was making his debut in the senior squad. It was Schreuder's way of rewarding the striker for an outstanding campaign in which he has netted eight goals in nine appearances to date.
The youngster did not feature, however, with Schreuder instead opting for three other players. The coach first shuffled his pack in the 69th minute, introducing Sargis Adamyan for goalscorer Locadia. Another like-for-like change followed seven minutes later as Rupp made way for Dennis Geiger, with the third and final substitution coming nine minutes from time when Christoph Baumgartner replaced Bebou.
Moment of the match: the second goal (15)
While the opening goal was a moment of individual brilliance, the second involved some scintillating link-up play. Skov and Locadia started the move on the left flank before Rupp cut the ball back to Grillitsch. The Austrian subtly touched it into the path of Kadeřábek, who rounded off a wonderful attack for the hosts.
Number of the game: 73
It took just 73 seconds for TSG to open the scoring against Paderborn. Robert Skov got the goal, converting the quickest direct-free kick scored in the Bundesliga since 2006 from around 30 metres out.
Line-ups:
TSG Hoffenheim: Baumann – Akpoguma, Vogt, Hübner – Kadeřábek, Grillitsch, Rupp (Geiger, 76), Rudy, Skov – Locadia (Adamyan, 69), Bebou (Baumgartner, 81).
SC Paderborn: Zingerle – Dräger (Jans, 46), Kilian, Schonlau, Collins – Sabiri, Vasiliadis, Antwi-Adjei, Oliveira Souza (Mamba, 46), Holtmann – Zolinski (Michel, 70).
Goals: 1-0 Skov (2), 2-0 Kadeřábek (15), 3-0 Locadia (26)
Match highlights
Hoffenheim open the scoring just over 60 seconds into the match when Robert Skov fires home a free-kick from 30 metres. What a thunderbolt from the Dane!
Florian Grillitsch carries the ball forward and chips it into the path of Ihlas Bebou, who has only the keeper to beat. But his effort trickles narrowly wide.
Another superb goal from TSG. A team move involving Skov, Locadia, Rupp and Grillitsch is rounded off by Kadeřábek, whose strike makes it 2-0.
Paderborn get their first big opportunity when Oliveira Souza receives the ball in space inside the box, but Baumann gets into position and makes a strong save.
TSG continue their ruthless streak in front of goal. Kadeřábek picks out Locadia in the box and he cuts inside his marker before coolly slotting the ball into the far corner. What a performance from TSG!
You can clearly see from the way TSG are playing that confidence is sky-high at the moment. Bebou juggles the ball before volleying at goal, although Zingerle makes a comfortable save in the end. The TSG frontman has another go at goal just a short while later – this time from a tight angle.
Substitute Adamyan goes close to adding a fourth following an excellent move but he is denied by SCP shot-stopper Zingerle.
Match facts and statistics »
