Modeste and Volland on target in first home win

It was important for Hoffenheim to put last week's nightmare against Stuttgart behind them and in front of their home fans, TSG were well placed to do so. Markus Gisdol made two changes, replacing the injured Roberto Firmino with Kai Herdling and Sebastian Rudy was brought back into holding midfield for Tobias Strobl.

As early as the fifth minute, the in-form Kevin Volland turned and curled a first-time shot towards goal. Ter Stegen was left flat-footed but Volland's effort clipped the inside of the post with TSG centimetres away from taking the lead. Both teams slowly worked their way into the game before Gladbach had their first opportunity. A deep free kick into the box threatened, but Koen Casteels' parry did just enough to avert the danger.

Modeste breaks deadlock

As the game wore on and the score remained goalless, both sides started to get anxious and the frustration increased. Gladbach started to see more and more of the ball but rarely threatened Casteels' goal, and when they did roam forward Hoffenheim's defence dealt with the threat comfortably. Four minutes before the break, ter Stegen made a strong save from Volland's drive before Raffael flashed an effort wide at the other end.

It looked like it would be goalless at half time but Hoffenheim changed that, scoring with the last kick of the half. Tarik Elyounoussi weaved down the left wing before hanging up a cross that Anthony Modeste glanced into the back of the net with the help of a deflection.

Volland shows class

After the break, Gladbach came out with plenty of intent and, after Juan Arango curled just over, Patrick Herrmann set up Raffael inside the area but Koen Casteels saved his effort to keep TSG ahead. Moments later, Hoffenheim made the most of it too as Modeste fed a perfect pass through to Volland who cut back inside the defender to curl an effort into the far corner and double the home side's lead.

Gladbach's frustration was all too evident as they desperately sought a way back into the game. And, after further patient possession, the visitors were finally rewarded. Substitute Branimir Hrgota danced his way through the defence before dinking an effort over Casteels, off the post and in to make for a tense final 10 minutes.

Nervous finish

Having scored once, Gladbach upped the pressure on the home side in the final ten minutes and Hoffenheim had to defend stubbornly to keep them at bay. Filip Daems drilled a shot across goal but Casteels saved well with his feet as Hoffenheim threw bodies in front of every Gladbach effort.

Despite a nervous finish, Markus Gisdol's side held on for their first home win of the season. Next week, TSG will travel to VfL Wolfsburg for a 15:30 CET kick off on Saturday, September 21st.

Jonathan Harding

TSG 1899 Hoffenheim: Casteels – Beck, Abraham, Vestergaard, Johnson – Polanski, Rudy (78' Süle) – Volland, Herdling (56' Strobl), Elyounoussi – Modeste (71' Schipplock)

Borussia Mönchengladbach: ter Stegen – Jantschke, Stranzl, Dominguez, Daems – Kramer (70' de Jong), Xhaka – Herrmann (65' Hrgota), Arango (70' Younes) – Raffael, Kruse

Goals: 1-0 Modeste (45'), 2-0 Volland (54')

Yellow cards: Beck, Modeste, Abraham – Jantschke, Xhaka

Referee: Christian Dingert

Attendance: 29,447

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