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Late defeat in Berlin
The scenario
Both teams had dropped points towards the end of last year but Union Berlin still went into the game in fifth place, while TSG Hoffenheim were down in 11th with nine points fewer.
The line-up
Head coach André Breitenreiter made three changes to the starting XI that played in the 2-1 defeat to VfL Wolfsburg before the winter break. Stanley Nsoki, Ihlas Bebou and Tom Bischof, who was making his debut in the starting XI, were the new faces in the team.
Number of the game: 259
There were 259 days between Ihlas Bebou's previous competitive appearance and his comeback away to Union Berlin. The forward had last played in the 4-2 defeat to Bayer 04 Leverkusen on Matchday 33 of last season.
Moment of the match
The goal that made it 2-1 to Union. Robert Skov made a last-second clearance to take the ball off the toes of Levin Öztunali, who was probably offside. But the corner was still awarded and Danilho Doekhi headed home to make it 2-1 in the 89th minute.
Debut of the match
Tom Bischof made the starting XI in the Bundesliga for the first time and became the youngest player to start a league game in Hoffenheim's history. He was 17 years and 207 days old at the time of the 3-1 loss to Union Berlin.
Outlook
TSG will be in Bundesliga action again as early as Tuesday. VfB Stuttgart will be the visitors to the PreZero Arena at 20:30 CET.
Stats
Line-ups:
Union Berlin: Rönnow – Jaeckel, Knoche, Doekhi – Trimmel, Khedira, Gießelmann – Haraguchi (Seguin, 63), Haberer (Öztunali, 88) – Jordan (Behrens, 63), Becker (Leweling, 88)
TSG Hoffenheim: Baumann – Akpoguma (Kadeřábek, 42), Ozan Kabak (Bičakčić, 77), Nsoki – Skov, Geiger, Stiller, Angeliño – Bischof (Kramarić, 66), Baumgartner – Bebou (Dolberg, 66)
Goals: 0-1 Bebou (44), 1-1 Doekhi (73), 2-1 Doekhi (89), 3-1 Leweling (90+6)
Notable incidents: Jordan hits the post with penalty awarded for handball (25)
Match highlights
The first big chance
TSG almost take the lead from a corner. The ball somehow lands at the feet of Bebou, whose shot from close range is deflected on its way through the crowd and flies just wide of the left post.
Bischof squanders opportunity to open scoring
What a first start it could’ve been: Angeliño is played in perfectly down the left flank and squares the ball to Bischof. The midfielder has plenty of time but does not connect properly with the ball with his right foot and a great chance goes begging.
Union growing more dangerous
TSG have a good opportunity but lose possession and then things get dangerous. An under-pressure Baumgartner clears the ball in the box straight to Haberer, but then manages to block his shot.
Union miss spot-kick
Jordan steps up to take the penalty after Bebou handles the ball in the box. Baumann goes the right way but does not need to intervene as Union’s forward strikes the foot of the post. That was lucky.
Skov meets his match
Angelino plays a super one-two with Baumgartner, who squares it to Skov. The Dane is unfortunately not ideally set up to strike the ball and is denied by Rönnow from a good position.
Bebou opens the scoring
A textbook counter-attack brings about the opener: Angeliño clears in his own penalty area. Bischof plays it on to Geiger, who sets Skov in motion. The Dane tees up Bebou in the box and the striker thunders the ball inside the near post with his first touch.
TSG get lucky
The Berlin outfit are slowly looking deserving of an equaliser. A cross from the left slips through to Trimmel, who is completely unmarked but volleys the ball over the bar.
Union restore parity
Unfortunately, it was on the cards. Baumann makes the save to deny Gießelmann, but then Doekhi levels with a header from a corner.
A late blow
Union strike again from a corner. Baumann misjudges the flight of the ball and Doekhi scores with a free header.
Game over
TSG win another free-kick but are then hit on the counter-attack. Öztunali plays in Leweling, who keeps his cool in front of Baumann and makes it 3-1.
Match facts and statistics »
