FIRST TEAM

10/02/2022

A hard-fought draw in the capital

TSG Hoffenheim drew 1-1 (1-1) away to Hertha BSC on Sunday. Dodi Lukebakio equalised before half-time after Andrej Kramarić had fired TSG into the lead. Both teams created plenty of chances in what was an intense encounter, but ultimately the spoils were shared.

The scenario

TSG found themselves in fourth place going into the game, having picked up 13 points from their first seven games. Hertha, for their part, had six points and were 13th in the table.

Line-ups

André Breitenreiter made two changes to the line-up that drew 0-0 against SC Freiburg: Nsoki started in central defence instead of Akpoguma, while Dabbur slotted in up front next to Kramarić, with Georginio moving to the bench.

Number of the game: 200

Andrej Kramarić made his 200th Bundesliga appearance on Sunday. He is the fourth TSG player to reach this milestone after Sebastian Rudy, Oliver Baumann and Andreas Beck.

Moment of the match

The 86th minute: Robert Skov found the back of the net after an excellent piece of link-up play to make it 2-1, but Bruun Larsen's initial pass into the Hertha half was just offside, so the goal was chalked off and TSG had to settle with a draw.

Best substitution

The triple change around ten minutes before the end breathed new life into TSG, as Akpoguma, Skov and Bruun Larsen helped raise the tempo and put Hertha under pressure.

Outlook

TSG Hoffenheim's Bundesliga campaign continues on Friday, when André Breitenreiter's team will host SV Werder Bremen under the floodlights of the PreZero Arena (kick-off 20:30 CET). Bremen will come into the game with the wind in their sails, having beaten Borussia Mönchengladbach 5-1 this weekend.

Statistics

Line-ups:

Hertha BSC: Christensen - Kenny, Uremovic (46, Rogel), Kempf, Plattenhardt - Sunjic - Tousart, S. Serdar (72, Richter) – Lukebakio (83, Boateng), Kanga (72, Selke), Ejuke (90+1, Mittelstädt)

TSG Hoffenheim: Baumann – Ozan Kabak, Vogt, Nsoki (82, Akpoguma) – Kadeřábek, Geiger (63, Stiller), Angeliño (82, Skov) – Prömel, Baumgartner (82, Bruun Larsen) – Dabbur (61, Georginio), Kramarić

Goals: 0-1 Kramarić (26), 1-1 Lukebakio (37)

The highlights

Match highlights

16. Min.

Lukebakio denied by Baumann

Tousart delivers the ball from the right towards Lukebakio, who finds himself in space within the box. He takes a touch and then fires a shot towards goal, but he doesn't connect cleanly enough to really trouble Baumann in the TSG goal.

19. Min.

A big chance for Kramarić

Geiger drills the ball into the area from a corner. Kramarić manages to lose his marker and get on the end of the delivery, but his effort whizzes just over the crossbar.

25. Min.

Kramarić scores the opener

Kramarić fires TSG into the lead. Angeliño plays a diagonal ball towards Ozan Kabak, who takes it down just outside the box and plays a pass towards Kramarić. The Croatian needs just one touch to find the back of the net in what is a landmark match for him.

37. Min.

The equaliser

Angeliño is put under pressure and plays a pass across goal. Ejuke intercepts the ball and drives forward before slipping a pass to Lukebakio, who slots the ball into the far-corner with aplomb.

45. Min.

A huge double chance for TSG

Ooft, that was close! Angelino tees up Kramarić, whose volleyed effort cannons back off the underside of the bar. The rebound falls to Prömel, whose header is cleared off the line.

48. Min.

Ejuke fires just wide

Ejuke dribbles his way forward and fires a shot on goal from the edge of the box. The ball zips just wide of the far-post.

74. Min.

Baumgartner comes close

A huge chance for TSG: Stiller threads a pass to Baumgartner in the box, who needs no invitation to shoot on goal, but his effort flies just wide of the left-hand post.