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Unlucky TSG lose to Wolfsburg
Personnel & tactics:
Oliver Baumann made his comeback between the sticks for TSG Hoffenheim after recovering from a meniscus injury. The 29-year-old, who replaced back-up shot-stopper Philipp Pentke, was protected by an unchanged back three of Stefan Posch, Ermin Bičakčić and Benjamin Hübner. Pavel Kadeřábek and Robert Skov kept their places on the flanks, while the trio of Florian Grillitsch, Sebastian Rudy and Diadie Samassékou remained in central midfield. Andrej Kramarić replaced Munas Dabbur in attack, where he played alongside Christoph Baumgartner.
TSG lined up in a 3-5-2 formation that sometimes switched to a 4-3-3 as Kadeřábek got forward to support Baumgartner and Kramarić in attack.
Head coach Alfred Schreuder made a double-substitution at the interval, introducing Steven Zuber and Jacob Bruun Larsen in place of Bičakčić and Rudy. Zuber took over at left-back, while Bruun Larsen operated down the left. Skov moved across to the right wing and Baumgartner dropped back into midfield.
TSG made an attacking change after going 3-2 down, with Munas Dabbur replacing Grillitsch on 74 minutes.
Moment of the match:
The winning goal: Christoph Baumgartner was unlucky to see his shot deflected onto the post by a Wolfsburg defender. Casteels caught the resultant corner and initiated a move that saw Wolfsburg take the lead for the third time. Arnold threaded the ball through to Weghorst, who completed his hat-trick with a dink over Baumann.
Number of the game: 216
Sebastian Rudy made his 216th Bundesliga appearance for TSG Hoffenheim against VfL Wolfsburg. That means the midfielder is now joint-top of the club's all-time Bundesliga appearance list along with Andreas Beck.
Line-ups:
TSG Hoffenheim: Baumann – Posch, Bičakčić (Zuber, 46), Hübner – Kadeřábek, Rudy (Bruun Larsen, 46), Grillitsch (Dabbur, 74), Samassékou, Skov – Baumgartner, Kramarić
VfL Wolfsburg: Casteels – Mbabu, Knoche, Brooks, Roussillon – Guilavogui – Schlager, Arnold – Mehmedi (Klauss, 87) – Steffen (Brekalo, 69), Weghorst (Ginczek, 90)
Goals: 0-1 Weghorst (pen., 18), 1-1 Baumgartner (45), 1-2 Weghorst (pen., 52), 2-2 Kramarić (pen., 60), 2-3 Weghorst (71)
Match highlights
The first big chance of the match falls to Hoffenheim. A brilliant pass from Kramarić puts Kadeřábek clean through on Casteels down the right. But his shot doesn’t trouble the Wolfsburg custodian, who gathers comfortably.
Weghorst steps up to take a penalty that is awarded after Rudy handles Schlager’s shot in the box. The forward sends Baumann the wrong way and places the ball in the bottom corner.
Mehmedi makes it 2-0 but the goal is ruled out for offside. Let-off for TSG!
Grillitsch plays a brilliant pass to Kramarić, who goes past an opponent down the right and chips a perfect cross into the centre. Baumgartner is in the right place at the right time to nod home from close range.
After consulting the pitchside monitor, the referee awards a penalty for a foul on Mbabu by Hübner. Baumann correctly anticipates that Weghorst will go straight down the middle but can’t keep the spot-kick out.
VAR awards another penalty – this time to TSG – after Skov’s free-kick is handled by Weghorst in the Wolfsburg wall. Kramarić steps up to take the kick and beats the keeper with a low drive.
Hoffenheim almost go in front when Kramarić’s attempted shot lands at the feet of Baumgartner. The Austrian tries a first-time flick but shoots straight into the arms of Casteels. That’ll go down as a missed opportunity.
Wolfsburg keeper Casteels catches a Hoffenheim corner and initiates a counter with a long ball downfield. Arnold plays Weghorst clean through, and he dinks the ball over Baumann and into the TSG net.
Huge chance for Wolfsburg on the counter. It’s four versus two, but Baumann makes a good stop to deny Weghorst a fourth.
Match facts and statistics »
