FIRST TEAM

12/10/2020

TSG round off group with comfortable win over Gent

TSG Hoffenheim rounded off their UEFA Europa League group campaign in style by beating KAA Gent 4-1 (2-0) on Matchday 6. Maximilian Beier scored his first two goals at professional level, with Robert Skov and Andrej Kramarić scoring the others to complete what was a deserved rout. The victory means the Kraichgau club have ended the group stage unbeaten with 16 points.

Personnel & tactics:

A day after extending his contract, 35-year-old Philipp Pentke made his Europa League debut for TSG Hoffenheim. The shot-stopper was protected by a back four of Stefan Posch, Kasim Adams, Kevin Akpoguma and Marco John, while Mijat Gaćinović partnered Dennis Geiger at the heart of midfield. Further forward, Robert Skov, Munas Dabbur and Maximilian Beier formed the attacking triumvirate behind lone frontman João Klauss.

Posch made way for Håvard Nordtveit at the interval. Akpoguma moved over to the right of defence. TSG made a double-substitution just after the hour mark, with Andrej Kramarić und Ishak Belfodil replacing Klauss and Skov (61). On the 75-minute mark, it was time for another European debut as Alfons Amade came on for Geiger to make his first-ever appearance in a continental club competition. Baumgartner replaced Beier at the same time.

Moment of the match:

In the 21st minute, Maximilian Beier met a Skov corner with a header. That effort was blocked, but the attempted clearance struck his head and from there it went into the back the net. It was the 18-year-old's first goal for the TSG senior team. Beier then doubled his tally with a wonderful long-range effort in the 49th minute.

Number of the game: 16

The 4-1 victory saw TSG Hoffenheim pick up their 14th, 15th and 16th points of the group stages. With five wins and a draw, Sebastian Hoeness' team went unbeaten and comfortably secured top spot. The only team to pick up more points in the group stages this season was English club Arsenal (18).

Line-ups:

TSG Hoffenheim: Pentke – Posch (Nordtveit, 46), Adams, Akpoguma, John – Gacinovic, Geiger (Amade, 75) – Skov (Belfodil, 61), Dabbur, Beier (Baumgartner, 75) – Klauss (Kramarić, 61)

KAA Gent: Roef – Arslangic, Plastun, Ngadeu-Ngadjui – Castro-Moentes (Botaka, 76), Dorsch (Kums, 57), Bezus, Owusu, Bezus, Mohammadi (Mohammadi, 46) – Bukari (Yaremchuk, 57), Kleindienst

Goals: 1-0 Beier (21), 2-0 Skov (27), 3-0 Beier (49), 4-0 Kramarić (64), 4-1 Fortuna (81)

Match highlights

20. Min.

Biggest chance of the game so far. A rebound falls to Dabbur, who fires a shot towards the far corner from a central position 17 metres out. But Roef makes the save at full stretch.

21. Min.

Skov whips a corner into the middle from the right. Beier's header is initially blocked, but the ball strikes his head again and rebounds into the net. What a strange opening goal!

27. Min.

What an incredible pass from Geiger. The midfielder threads it through to Skov, who times his run perfectly, rounds the goalkeeper and comfortably slots the ball into an empty net.

33. Min.

Debutant Pentke shines in between the sticks, making a strong save to thwart Bukari – who was clean through down the right – in a one-on-one battle.

37. Min.

That should've been 3-0. Klauss squares the ball to the unmarked Skov in the penalty area, but Roef saves his shot at the near post.

49. Min.

John does brilliantly to win the ball. He passes to Beier, who dribbles into the centre and fires in just under the bar from over 20 metres out. Great goal.

64. Min.

Dabbur has the vision to pick out Beier on the right and he fizzes a cross into the middle to set up Kramarić for a simple finish.

67. Min.

TSG counter-attack and Dabbur goes for an audacious lob, though his strike lands on the crossbar. Kramarić unfortunately fails to connect with the rebound.

69. Min.

Brilliant solo run into the penalty area by Belfodil, but his strike with the outside of his boot sails wide of the far post.