Hoffenheim beaten by the champions

For Hoffenheim, there were two changes to the side which began last week's draw at home to Hannover 96. Johnson came into the team to replace striker Vedad Ibisevic, who left the club to join VfB Stuttgart earlier this week, while Tobias Weis started in midfield in place of Peniel Mlapa, as manager Holger Stanislawski opted for a 4-3-3 formation. Elsewhere, he kept faith with Daniel Williams and Jannik Vestergaard in the centre of defence.

In an electric atmosphere at Signal Iduna Park, referee Knut Kircher got the game underway, and it was testing opening few minutes for TSG. Robert Lewandowski twice went close to opening the scoring for the hosts. His close range shot was blocked after a superb sliding challenge from Vestergaard, before the Polish striker was then denied when his deflected shot was agilely tipped round the post by Tom Starke.

Kagawa opens the scoring

Hoffenheim's defence looked solid enough, until the 16th minute when the hosts broke the deadlock. Dortmund won possession in the Hoffenheim half and Shinji Kagawa ran onto the loose ball to slot past Tom Starke at his near post (16). Stani's side were competing well in midfield and had their first chance of the game on 28 minutes. A foul was given when Ryan Babel was cynically brought down by Sven Bender on the edge of the box. Sejad Salihovic struck the free-kick well, but his effort was straight at Roman Weidenfeller in the Dortmund goal.

Two minutes later, Jürgen Klopp's Dortmund doubled their lead, as Jakub Blaszczykowski's cross from the right was volleyed homed from six yards by Kevin Großkreutz (31'). Ryan Babel then attempted t take the fight straight back to the champions. He beat four defenders and powered into the box, but his cute attempt at a chip was saved by the onrushing Weidenfeller. The first half drew to a close with Hoffenheim trailing at 2-0.

Johnson pulls one back

The second half began and the champions again put 1899 under immediate pressure. But despite holding put well for the opening ten minutes of the second half, 1899 soon found themselves three down when Kagawa found the net from eight yards (55'). Up front, however Hoffenheim were looking dangerous. Babel came within inches of converting Andreas Beck's cross, but Weidenfeller denied him, before Andreas Beck then narrowly missed the target from the resulting corner (58', 59'). TSG did finally find the net just after the hour mark, when Edson Braafheid's cross from the left was drilled home by Johnson (63').

Stanislawski brought on Peniel Mlapa in place of Johnson and the substitution had the desired impact, as Hoffenheim were suddenly holding onto the ball much better in the final third. After a good spell of possession, Beck came within a whisker of making it 3-2 when his left-foot drive zipped past the post, with Weidenfeller beaten (83'). At the other end, Starke again excelled when he denied substitute Lucas Barros with an agile tip over the crossbar (90).

Drawn second half

Referee Knucher brought the game to an end to leave Hoffenheim on the end of a 3-1 defeat. After a poor first half performance, Holger Stanislawski will be pleased with his side's second half display. TSG's next game is a home encounter with FC Augsburg.

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