Fanshop
TSG lose to Leverkusen
Personnel & tactics:
Head coach Sebastian Hoeness made 10 changes to the starting XI that beat KAA Gent 4-1 in midweek, with Stefan Posch the only player to keep his place in the starting XI. The Austrian played alongside Kevin Vogt, Håvard Nordtveit and Ryan Sessegnon in a four-man defence in front of goalkeeper Oliver Baumann. Sebastian Rudy partnered Diadie Samassékou in central defensive midfield. Ihlas Bebou (right) and Christoph Baumgartner (left) started in the wide positions, with Florian Grillitsch pulling the strings in the middle behind lone frontman Andrej Kramarić.
TSG made a substitution at the break. Robert Skov replaced Rudy. Bebou moved into the middle, while Skov played on the right flank. Around the hour mark, Ishak Belfodil came on in place of Bebou (59). Kramarić and Baumgartner then made way for Kevin Akpoguma and Mijat Gacinovic. Skov played at left-back, with Sessegnon pushing forward into midfield. Melyaro Bogarde made his second Bundesliga appearance in the final few minutes. The Dutchman replaced Samassékou on the 86-minute mark.
Moment of the match:
The first minute: With only 15 seconds on the clock, an unmarked Florian Grillitsch had a huge opportunity to put TSG ahead but he headed over from close range. Shortly afterwards, Leon Bailey opened the scoring for Bayer 04 Leverkusen (fourth minute). Had Grillitsch scored, the game might have taken a different turn.
Number of the game: 9
Following the dismissals of Florian Grillitsch and Stefan Posch, TSG Hoffenheim ended the match with nine men. Both players will miss the Leipzig game on Wednesday through suspension.
Line-ups:
Bayer 04 Leverkusen: Hradecky – L. Bender (Weiser, 75), Tah, Tapsoba, Sinkgraven (Wendell, 66) – Baumgartliner (Dragovic, 83) – Amiri, Wirtz – Bailey (Bellarabi, 75), Schick (Alario, 66), Diaby
TSG Hoffenheim: Baumann – Posch, Vogt, Nordtveit, Sessegnon – Rudy (Skov, 46), Samassékou (Bogarde, 86) – Bebou (Belfodil, 59), Grillitsch, Baumgartner (Gaćinović, 76) – Kramarić (Akpoguma, 76)
Goals: 1-0 Bailey (4), 2-0 Bailey (27), 2-1 Baumgartner (49), 3-1 Wirtz (55), 4-1 Alario (handball, 90+2)
Red cards: Grillitsch (65), Posch (79)
Match highlights
What a start! Kramarić goes past Tapsoba down the right flank and crosses perfectly towards Grillitsch, but his header from a totally unmarked position five metres out flies over the bar. We should be 1-0 ahead after 15 seconds!
Leverkusen take a short corner and Bailey curls the ball brilliantly into the top left corner from the edge of the box. Baumann got to it but couldn't keep it out. Dream goal!
TSG take a short corner. Baumgartner's shot is saved and the ball lands at the feet of Bebou, whose backflick is wide of the mark. That was a great opportunity.
Kramarić attempts to play a backpass but instead plays the ball to the feet of Bailey, who rounds Baumann and fires into an empty net from 30 metres.
A cross finds Posch at the back post and the Austrian is left with a free header from just a few metres out, but he leans back and heads the ball over with the goal gaping. TSG should've pulled one back there.
Almost 3-0 out of nothing. Amiri lets the ball run through to Wirtz, but Baumann makes a strong save to keep the Leverkusen man's shot out.
Sessegnon plays the ball towards Baumgartner, who is completely free in the centre. The Austrian is allowed to get a shot away from 25 metres and he picks out the corner. Dream goal!
Huge opportunity to equalise. Samassékou shoots and the ball lands with Baumgartner, who is taken by surprise and misses what looked like a certain equaliser from five metres out.
Schick feeds Wirtz in the box, who gets the better of Samassékou and then lobs the ball over Baumann and into the net.
Nordtveit blocks a shot with his hand and Alario coolly fires the resultant spot-kick into the corner.
Match facts and statistics »
