TSG succumb to Leipzig

PERSONNEL AND TACTICS

TSG Hoffenheim made six changes to the team that beat Hannover 3-1 in midweek for their home game against RB Leipzig. Oliver Baumann returned between the sticks, while Kevin Akpoguma, Justin Hoogma and Bundesliga debutant Stefan Posch formed a back three. Pavel Kaderabek and Nico Schulz filled the wing-back berths, with Florian Grillitsch the sole defensive midfielder and Leonardo Bittencourt and Andrej Kramaric further forward in attacking midfield. The strike partnership was formed by Adam Szalai and Ishak Belfodil, who was making his first start. Gregor Kobel, Kevin Vogt (bruised thigh), Ermin Bicakcic (calf problems), Joshua Brenet, Reiss Nelson and Joelinton, who had all started in Hanover, were replaced by Baumann, Hoogma, Posch, Schulz, Kramaric and Belfodil.

Kerem Demirbay came on to replace Bittencourt in the 57th minute, with Grillitsch making way for Vincenzo Grifo five minutes later. Julian Nagelsmann made his third and final change when he introduced Joelinton in place of Szalai. After going 2-0 down, the team switched to a 4-3-3 formation in which Hoogma moved across to left-back.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

The 19th minute: a Grillitsch volley was first beaten away by Leipzig custodian Gulacsi, then a powerful Belfodil header bounced down off the underside of the bar but did not cross the line. Goal-line technology showed that referee Deniz Aytekin had made the correct call. Scoring the opener would have allowed TSG to play with greater freedom.

NUMBER OF THE GAME: 9

Yussuf Poulsen found the net twice. The 24-year-old, who wears the shirt number 9, was the match-winner for Leipzig against Hoffenheim today.

Match facts and statistics »