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TSG lose to Leverkusen in intense battle
Personnel and tactics:
Head coach Sebastian Hoeness made two changes to his starting line-up from the 4-3 defeat against SC Freiburg. Stefan Posch replaced Kevin Akpoguma in central defence and together with Pavel Kadeřábek, Kevin Vogt and David Raum formed the back four in front of goalkeeper Oliver Baumann. Diadie Samassékou anchored the midfield from the number-six role, Christoph Baumgartner and Angelo Stiller played ahead of him in the mezzala position, while Munas Dabbur played in the hole behind the front two of Andrej Kramarić and Georginio, who replaced Ihlas Bebou.
TSG made their first change in the 54th minute, with Ihlas Bebou coming on for Georginio. With 20 minutes to go, Hoffenheim made two further changes: Robert Skov and Sebastian Rudy came on for Dabbur and Baumgartner (69). After Leverkusen took the lead, TSG went all-out attack and brought on Jacob Bruun Larsen for Samassékou (78).
Moment of the match:
The 79th minute: substitute Jacob Bruun Larsen posed an immediate threat, hitting the upright with a shot on goal. The rebound fell to Andrej Kramarić, who only had to finish in front of an open goal, but he missed the target and blew a huge chance to equalise.
Number of the game: 8
The opening goal of the game was Georginio's eighth of the current campaign, meaning the Frenchman is now TSG's leading goalscorer this season.
Line-ups:
TSG Hoffenheim: Baumann – Kadeřábek, Posch, Vogt, Raum – Samassékou (78, Bruun Larsen) – Baumgartner (69, Rudy), Stiller – Dabbur (69, Skov) – Georginio (54, Bebou), Kramarić
Bayer 04 Leverkusen: Hradecky – Kossounou, Tah, Tapsoba, Hincapie (46, Bakker) – Andrich (64, Palacios), Aranguiz – Diaby, Azmoun (64, Alario), Paulinho (84, Sinkgraven) – Schick (84, Baumgartlinger)
Goals: 1-0 Georginio (22), 1-1 Schick (34), 2-1 Baumgartner (36), 2-2 Diaby (73), 2-3 Schick (76), 2-4 Alario (90+1)
Match highlights
TSG get the lead they were hoping for: Baumgartner wins the ball near the Leverkusen box and lays it off to Georginio, who makes no mistake with the finish.
Leverkusen strike back, and it's been coming. Diaby is played clear down the left and crosses into the middle, where Schick is well-placed to take the ball on the volley and finish cleanly into the corner of the net.
TSG respond almost immediately. Kadeřábek finds space down the right and lofts a cross towards the far post, where Baumgartner is able to jump the highest to nod the ball home from close range.
TSG give away the ball carelessly in their own half, which leads to a shot on goal from Schick, but Baumann is able to get down well to make the save.
Raum plays an excellent ball into the area, which Dabbur meets with a powerful header, but Hradecky reacts well to palm the ball to safety.
A big chance for Leverkusen to draw level at 2-2: a sloppy pass by Raum is intercepted by Diaby, who has a clear route to goal. He tries to guide a shot into the far corner, but it drifts just wide of the target.
Leverkusen get their equaliser, and again it's been coming. A long ball is played forward to Schick, whose delicate first touch sends Diaby clean through on goal. He controls well and keeps his cool to slot the ball low past Baumann.
Leverkusen have turned the game on its head in the space of a few minutes. Schick beats his man in the box before rounding Baumann and sliding the ball into the empty net.
Surely not: substitute Bruun Larsen poses an immediate threat, striking the post with an effort on goal. The rebound falls to Kramarić, who has an open goal, but he somehow fires wide of the mark.
TSG lose the ball near their own area. Alario is played through on goal, he dinks the ball past the keeper and finishes into the empty net.
Match facts and statistics »
