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Scintillating TSG win in Leverkusen
The scenario
After losing 3-1 in Mönchengladbach on the opening day of the season, TSG picked up their first three points with a 3-2 win over Bochum on Matchday 2. Bayer Leverkusen, on the other hand, lost both on Matchday 1 (1-0 in Dortmund) and Matchday 2 (2-1 against Augsburg), meaning they hosted TSG as the bottom-placed team in the table.
Tactics
Head coach André Breitenreiter made two changes to the starting line-up from the 3-2 win over VfL Bochum last weekend, with Kevin Akpoguma and Georginio replacing Stanley Nsoki and Jacob Bruun Larsen. The formation remained the same, as TSG operated in a 3-5-2 system.
Number of the game: 5
The number of first-half goals scored by TSG Hoffenheim in the first three matchdays. Only Bayern Munich (seven first-half goals) have hit the target more often in the opening 45 minutes.
Moment of the match
The third goal: Leverkusen threw everything at TSG in the second half, but the visitors struck in the 78th minute to put the result beyond doubt. Munas Dabbur shipped the ball out to Georginio on the right of the area, who skipped inside and curled a wonderful effort into the top corner to make it 3-0.
Best dribble
Ozan Kabak launched himself into a risky challenge with Sardar Azmoun on the halfway line. The TSG player came away with the ball, thereby snuffing out a Leverkusen counter-attack and launching a Hoffenheim move forward. The Turkey international raced 50 metres down the right flank before sending a cross towards the head of Andrej Kramarić, who just had to nod the ball home from close range to open up a two-goal lead for TSG (35).
Outlook
TSG will host FC Augsburg next week (Saturday, 15:30 CET). Augsburg lost 2-1 to 1. FSV Mainz 05 on Matchday 3, meaning coach Enrico Maaßen's team are in tenth place with three points.
Stats
Line-ups:
TSG Hoffenheim: Baumann – Ozan Kabak, Vogt, Akpoguma – Skov (69, Kadeřábek), Geiger (75, Rudy), Angeliño – Prömel, Baumgartner (69, Dabbur) – Georginio (85, Bruun Larsen), Kramarić (85, Stiller)
Bayer 04 Leverkusen: Hradecky – Frimpong, Tah, Tapsoba (76, Bakker), Hincapie – Andrich (66, Paulinho), Aranguiz (46, Palacios) – Diaby, Azmoun (76, Amiri), Hlozek (46, Demirbay) – Schick
Goals: 0-1 Baumgartner (9), 0-2 Kramarić (35), 0-3 Georginio (78)
Match highlights
Strong save from Baumann
Bayer 04 get their first chance of the game. Diaby is slipped in behind the backline and bears down on Baumann's goal, but the TSG keeper comes out on top in the one-on-one.
World-class goal from Baumgartner
A lovely piece of combination play from TSG: first Georginio sends a pass to Prömel in the area, who plays an exchange of passes with Baumgartner. The Austrian receives the ball with his back to goal, but catches the keeper by surprise as he fires a backheel into the net. What a goal!
Kramarić heads home to make it 2-0
Ozan Kabak wins the ball in a challenge and embarks on a run down the right. He shrugs off the attention of various defenders and lofts a cross into the box. The ball takes a deflection and loops over the outstretched arms of Hradecky and onto the head of Andrej Kramarić to make it 2-0.
Azmoun saves TSG
Diaby works his way into space on the left and plays the ball into the area, where Schick has a clear sight of goal. He drills a shot on target, but Azmoun is standing near the goalline and unwittingly makes the block which prevents his team from pulling a goal back.
Georginio scores a wondergoal
Kramaric slips a pass to Georginio, who skips past Bakker and curls a wonderful effort into the top-corner from the right side of the area. 3-0 to Hoffenheim!
Demirbay hits the post
Demirbay fires a free-kick on goal from 22 metres out, but he can only hit the outside of the post.
Angeliño volley just off target
Angeliño meets a cross from the right with a drop-kick volley, but the ball zips just wide of the mark. Almost another TSG wondergoal there.
Match facts and statistics »
