Brilliant TSG come from behind to beat Gladbach
Personnel & tactics:
Head coach Sebastian Hoeness made one change to the starting XI that drew 0-0 away to RB Leipzig, with Ihlas Bebou replacing Georginio Rutter in attack. Pavel Kadeřábek, Stefan Posch, Chris Richards and Ryan Sessegnon again formed the back four behind goalkeeper Oliver Baumann. Florian Grillitsch and Diadie Samassékou kept their places in defensive midfield, with Robert Skov, Andrej Kramarić and Christoph Baumgartner the attacking midfield trio.
TSG made their first substitution in the 63rd minute, with Sargis Adamyan replacing Skov in a like-for-like switch. Baumgartner had to leave the pitch with an injury with seven minutes to go, and was replaced by Håvard Nordtveit in a defensive-minded change. Melayro Bogarde also replaced Kramarić late on (90+1).
Moment of the match:
The winner: Pavel Kaderabek surged past his opponent down the right flank in the 65th minute. The Czech international then had the vision to pick out the unmarked Andrej Kramarić, who struck the ball perfectly into the corner to secure the 3-2 victory.
Number of the game: 17
TSG turned a 2-0 deficit into a 3-2 lead in the space of 17 minutes. Andrej Kramarić netted his 15th and 16th goals of the season either side of an Ihlas Bebou strike to seal the win – Hoffenheim's first from two goals down since September 2017 (3-2 in Mainz).
Line-ups:
TSG Hoffenheim: Baumann – Kadeřábek, Posch, Richards, Sessegnon – Samassékou, Grillitsch – Skov (Adamyan, 63), Kramarić (Bogarde, 90+1), Baumgartner (Nordtveit, 83) – Bebou
Borussia Mönchengladbach: Sippel – Lainer (Traore, 86), Ginter, Elvedi, Bensebaini (Zakaria, 68) – Kramer (Herrmann, 75), Neuhaus – Lazaro, Plea (Wolf, 68), Hofmann – Thuram (Embolo, 68)
Goals: 0-1 Plea (25), 0-2 Lazaro (45+1), 1-2 Kramarić (48), 2-2 Bebou (60), 3-2 Kramarić (65)
Match highlights
The first chance came with barely three minutes on the clock: Kadeřábek plays a lovely cross into the centre that is met by Baumgartner, but his diving header flies narrowly wide.
Lovely attack from TSG: Baumgartner touches a Kadeřábek cross into the path of Skov. The Dane's effort takes a deflection and looks to be heading for the back of the net, but Sippel tips the ball over the crossbar.
Kramarić is brought down in the opposition half but the referee doesn't blow and Gladbach switch the play quickly. Posch is outmuscled by Thuram and the ball falls to Plea, who opens the scoring out of the blue. To make matters worse, the shot took a deflection and flew past the motionless Baumann.
It's as if we're cursed! Bebou shows good persistence and gets a shot away in the box. His attempt beats Sippel and looks set for the far corner, but strikes the post.
Baumgartner chases down Sippel and forces him into a mistake. Skov shoots from a tight angle, but his right-footed strike unfortunately hits the side netting with the goal gaping.
That was too easy. Thuram breaks through down the left, cuts into the penalty area and picks out Lazaro, who is left with a simple tap-in from several metres.
TSG deservedly pull a goal back. The ball falls to Kramarić after a corner-kick and he doesn't need to think twice, firing home from close range to make it 2-1.
Brilliant attack by TSG, who are rewarded with the equaliser: Baumgartner turns nicely and plays the ball out towards Kadeřábek, who turns on the afterburners before fizzing a cross into the centre from the right. Bebou slides in and converts from close range.
TSG are pushing for the goal that will put them in front. Skov chests down a long ball to Baumgartner, who shoots from close range and fires narrowly wide of the mark. Sippel didn't stand a chance there.
What a great goal: Kadeřábek makes an unbelievable run down the right and cuts the ball back to Kramarić, who strikes it perfectly to put his side in the lead.
Kadeřábek breaks through down the right flank yet again. He crosses the ball into the middle but Baumgartner's shot is blocked. Kramaric then has a go from long range and just misses the target. Again, Sippel was beaten.