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Clear win against Slovan Liberec
Personnel & tactics:
Sebastian Hoeness made six changes to his starting XI. João Klauss made his first competitive start for TSG Hoffenheim, while Melayro Bogarde replaced the injured Stefan Posch in defence. The Dutchman lined up alongside Kevin Akpoguma and Kevin Vogt in an otherwise unchanged back three protecting goalkeeper Oliver Baumann. Robert Skov and Ihlas Bebou returned to the team on the flanks, while Mijat Gaćinović and Christoph Baumgartner were reintroduced in midfield alongside Sebastian Rudy. Munas Dabbur partnered Klauss in attack.
The head coach replaced Vogt and Rudy with Florian Grillitsch and Diadie Samassékou at the interval. Håvard Nordtveit made his comeback after four months out injured on the hour-mark, the Norwegian replacing Akpoguma in the three-man defence. In addition, Sargis Adamyan came on for the two-goal scorer Dabbur in the 61st minute and Ishak Belfodil replaced Baumgartner in the 73rd minute.
Moment of the match:
The opening goal: TSG were clearly dominating proceedings but initially could not pick out a decisive opening. However, the deadlock was eventually broken when Robert Skov's excellent cross into the box was gathered and fired home by Munas Dabbur.
Number of the game: 9
TSG have taken nine points from their first three UEFA Europa League group matches, meaning they already have more points on the board than they picked up in both of their previous European campaigns combined (eight).
Line-ups:
TSG Hoffenheim: Baumann – Bogarde, Vogt (Grillitsch, 46), Akpoguma (Nordtveit, 61) – Bebou, Rudy (Samassékou, 46), Skov – Gaćinović, Baumgartner (Belfodil, 73) – Klauss, Dabbur (Adamyan, 61)
Slovan Liberec: Hasalik – Koscelnik, Kacaraba, Mikulas, Pourzitidis – Hromada (Michal, 77), Mara – Cancola (Dvorak, 90), Nesicky (Cernicky, 90), Kosek (Kazda, 90) – Rondic (Csano, 67)
Goals: 1-0 Dabbur (22), 2-0 Skov (29), 3-0 Grillitsch (59), 4-0 Adamyan (71), 5-0 Adamyan (76)
Match highlights
First big chance of the match: Baumgartner threads the ball through to Klauss, whose touch is slightly too heavy and Hasalik makes the save.
Next good opportunity: Baumgartner dribbles through the Czech defence and goes for goal from 18 metres out, but drags his shot narrowly wide of the post.
The goal had been coming! Skov crosses in from the left. Dabbur gathers the ball, dribbles past an opponent and slots home a cool finish from close range.
Skov blasts a free-kick at goal from the edge of the penalty area. Dabbur runs in and gets a slight touch on the ball to deflect it past Hasalik and into the net.
3-0! Third time lucky for TSG. Klauss and Samassékou have shots blocked, before Grillitsch beats the keeper with a deflected volley from around 25 metres out.
Sargis Adamyan scores his first goal in European competition! Bebou does not connect properly with Baumgartner’s cross but the ball falls to the Armenian, who picks his spot to make it 4-0.
Bebou crosses the ball and it takes a deflection into the path of Adamyan, who taps home from close range.
Match facts and statistics »
