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No points in Wolfsburg despite dramatic finale
Personnel & tactics:
Head coach Sebastian Hoeness made four changes to the starting XI that had thrashed Slovan Liberec 5-0 in midweek. Goalkeeper Oliver Baumann was protected by an unchanged back three of Melayro Bogarde, Kevin Vogt and Kevin Akpoguma. Ryan Sessegnon replaced the suspended Robert Skov on the left flank, while Sebastian Rudy shifted across from a central midfield position to take up the role on the right wing. Diadie Samassékou and Florian Grillitsch lined up alongside Christoph Baumgartner in the middle of the park. In addition, Ishak Belfodil replaced João Klauss in attack where he played alongside Munas Dabbur.
TSG made a double substitution on the hour mark, with Mijat Gaćinović and Sargis Adamyan coming on for Grillitsch and Belfodil (59). Ihlas Bebou replaced Samassékou 15 minutes later and shifted over to the right flank, with Rudy taking over the vacant role in midfield (74). Bogarde made way for João Klauss in the final minutes (87).
Moment of the match:
The fourth minute of stoppage time: Oliver Baumann went up into the opposition box for a corner-kick and helped to win a penalty. Maximilian Arnold clearly handled the ball in an aerial duel with Baumann. Munas Dabbur had a chance to salvage a point from the spot at the death but had his penalty saved by Koen Casteels.
Number of the game: 2
The 2-1 defeat at VfL Wolfsburg was only the second time that TSG Hoffenheim have lost in their last 11 Bundesliga away games.
The line-ups:
VfL Wolfsburg: Casteels – Baku, Lacroix, Brooks, Roussilion – Schlager (Pongracic, 90), Arnold – Steffen (Joao Victor, 71), Philipp (Mehmedi, 62), Brekalo (Gerhardt, 71) – Weghorst
TSG Hoffenheim: Baumann – Bogarde (Klauss, 87), Vogt, Akpoguma – Rudy, Samassékou (Bebou, 74), Grillitsch (Gaćinović, 59), Sessegnon – Baumgartner – Dabbur, Belfodil (Adamyan, 59)
Goals: 1-0 Steffen (7), 2-0 Weghorst (26), 2-1 Adamyan (87)
Notable incidents: Weghorst fires a penalty wide of the target (84), Dabbur has spot-kick saved by Casteels (90+4)
Match highlights
Huge opportunity for Wolfsburg: Arnold threads a brilliant pass in behind the defence to Roussilion, who cuts the ball back for Brekalo inside the penalty area. Vogt manages to block the forward's shot near the line, although Baumann was well placed to make the save.
What a bizarre passage of play! Dabbur is fouled in the opposition penalty area but no foul is given and Wolfsburg counter, with Philipp teeing up Steffen to score. The goal is initially disallowed for offside but the video assistant referee intervenes and overturns the decision, ruling that there was no foul on Dabbur and Steffen was not offside. The home side lead 1-0.
TSG leave themselves exposed and are hit on the counter. Steffen is denied by Baumann and Weghorst's follow-up is cleared on the line, but the Dutchman gets another chance and slots home to make it 2-0 to VfL. Third time lucky!
TSG should have pulled one back there. Dabbur plays a lovely ball to Grillitsch, who tees up Belfodil perfectly with a flick. The striker does well to get into a shooting position but then fires wide of the upright from a centre-left position.
TSG are caught out by a free-kick routine. Arnold plays the ball to Roussilion rather than going for goal himself, but Baumann makes a strong save.
That should've been 2-1. Sessegnon intercepts a Wolfsburg pass in the box and it falls to Baumgartner, whose close-range effort is kept out by Casteels.
Rudy plays a great cross to Dabbur, who heads the ball at goal, but Casteels turns it over the crossbar with a fingertip save.
Akpoguma is the last man and loses the ball. Weghorst is kept out by Baumann, but Vogt brings down Schlager in the ensuing scramble. Weghorst fires the resultant penalty wide of the target, however.
Brilliant assist from Baumgartner following a Sessegnon cross, but Adamyan is thwarted by Casteels. It seems today is not our day.
Brooks fails to clear a chipped ball by Vogt. Adamyan takes full advantage and powers the ball perfectly into the corner.
Oliver Baumann goes up for a corner-kick and helps his side win a penalty. Arnold is adjudged to have handled the ball. Munas Dabbur has a late chance to rescue a point from the spot, but Koen Casteels makes the stop.
Match facts and statistics »
