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TSG fought hard but lost clearly against Barca
Tactics & Personnel
Just a week earlier, TSG had already crossed swords with the defending champions. After a clear 4-0 defeat, TSG coach Gabor Gallai's side wanted to make things as difficult as possible for FC Barcelona at home in the Dietmar-Hopp-Stadion. With this being said, the women from Kraichgau were in great spirits ahead of the big game in front of 2,200 spectators. With their 7-1 victory over Bayer Leverkusen last Saturday, TSG had found the right response to their defeat in Barcelona.
Gallai made two changes to his team that demolished Leverkusen at the weekend: Franziska Harsch and Tine De Caigny remained on the bench for the time being. They were replaced by German international Jana Feldkamp and goal scorer Nicole Billa.
Tactically, Hoffenheim opted for a 4-3-3 formation. In front of goalkeeper Martina Tufekovic, Luana Bühler and Martina Specht were the central defenders, with Laura Wienroither at right-back and Katharina Naschenweng on the left. Playing as a number six in defensive midfield was captain Fabienne Dongus, with Feldkamp and Chantal Hagel in the middle higher up the field. The wingers were also ready to cause a stir, with Gia Corley on the right and Jule Brand on the left. Billa was in the centre up front.
TSG had the first chance of the game, with Laura Wienroither having a crack from 18 metres, but Gallai's team was then pressed more and more into their own half by the Catalans. Hoffenheim then struggled to overcome the visitors' dominant pressing. Towards the middle of the half, the women from Kraichgau managed to break free from time to time, but the defending champions continued to control the game and create the best chances. Four minutes before half time, Barca captain Alexia Putellas gave the Spaniards the lead after Wienroither gave away a penalty.
With two goals coming at the start of the second half through Irene Paredes and Aitana Bonmati, the Catalans destroyed any of TSG's remaining hopes. But even at 3-0 down they didn't give up; they tried everything to get one back. Yet it wasn't to be. Instead, the visitors added two more to their tally through Marta Torrejón and Ana-Maria Crnogorčević.
Match highlights
TSG have the first chance! After turning over possession in the middle, Billa fed it to Wienroither on the right. She shot with her right foot from just outside the box but missed the target.
TSG are forced really deep at the moment, but they have managed to prevent the Catalans from scoring so far. On the other hand, from a counter, Hagel suddenly has the ball at halfway with only the Barcelona goalkeeper Sandra Paños in front of her. But 40 metres from goal, the midfielder realises she can't outrun the defenders and decides to shoot instead. It lacked the necessary height and power and was easy pickings for Paños.
Now the first good chance for the visitors. From the left, central defender María León whipped an extremely precise cross into the box to Fridolina Rolfö, whose attempt was kept out by Tufekovic.
A misplaced pass from Bühler in TSG's build-up means that Barcelona have the ball in the penalty area with Rolfö. She's free in front of Tufekovic, but some good pressing forces her attempt wide of the target.
The next chance for Barcelona: a corner is sent in from the left to the front post. The defence wasn't there to deal with it, allowing right-back Jana Fernández to shoot from close range, but she missed the target.
Another great cross comes in from Barcelona's left-hand side. This time it's from captain Putellas, who finds Jennifer Hermoso in the middle. Her header, however, goes just over from six metres out.
Goal for Barcelona
Putellas goes towards the by-line down the left-hand side of the penalty area. Wienroither tries to tackle her but clearly takes her down. Putellas calmly converts the penalty.
A good move by Corley, who dribbled down the right and cut into the penalty area with a backheel. Her left-footed shot from 15 metres was blocked.
Goal for Barcelona
It's as simple as that. A corner comes in from the left and is converted with a powerful header by central defender Irene Paredes. No chance for Tufekovic in the Hoffenheim goal.
Tufekovic stops the third. Barcelona played it down the right and shifted it to Rolfö in the penalty area who had a free shot from 11 metres. But the TSG goalkeeper was there to make a strong save with her feet.
Goal for Barcelona
The visitors have their third. Rolfö cut it back from the left by-line and Aitana Bonmati buried it under the crossbar from 10 metres.
Now it's TSG again! Feldkamp gets a shot away from a central position 17 metres out, but it flies just over the bar.
Barcelona's left-back Leila Ouahabi crosses it to the back post, where the ball falls right at Rolfö's feet. However, her shot flies just wide of the right post.
Monster save by Tufekovic, who has had a great game. Barcelona move into the penalty area on the left and cut it back to Rolfö in the middle. The Swedish international striker hammers it at goal from 6 metres out, but Tufekovic gets a quick right arm to it and deflects it over the crossbar.
Another amazing piece of goalkeeping, as Tufekovic makes a diving save to deny a powerful shot by substitute Claudia Pina from the right-side of the penalty area.
Goal for Barcelona
4-0. A perfectly timed cross from Pina on the right finds the head of substitute Marta Torrejón, who doesn't miss from close range.
Goal for Barcelona
Barcelona strike a fifth in stoppage time. The very active Rolfö, who has been unlucky with her finishing this evening, made a surging run towards the left-hand by-line in the penalty area, before cutting it across goal for Ana-Maria Crnogorčević to have a free tap in to make it 5-0.
Match facts and statistics »
