Fanshop
Battling TSG earn point in Leverkusen
Personnel & tactics:
Head coach Alfred Schreuder made two changes to the starting XI that beat Werder Bremen 3-2 last weekend, with Christoph Baumgartner and Robert Skov making way for Florian Grillitsch and Ishak Belfodil. The back four in front of shot-stopper Oliver Baumann consisted of Stefan Posch, Kevin Vogt, Ermin Bičakčić and Konstantinos Stafylidis. Grillitsch played alongside Sebastian Rudy and Dennis Geiger in central midfield, while centre-forward Belfodil was flanked by Pavek Kadeřábek and Ilhas Bebou on the wings.
Striker Jürgen Locadia made his Hoffenheim debut on the hour-mark when he replaced Belfodil (62). The next change came in the 73rd minute as Bičakčić made way for Kevin Akpoguma at the heart of defence, with the third and final substitution coming seven minutes from time when Diadie Samassékou replaced Grillitsch.
Moment of the match:
Stefan Posch thwarted two attempts for the home side around the hour mark: the defender first made a brilliant sliding tackle as Leon Bailey readied to shoot, then blocked a shot from Karim Bellarabi just in front of the goal-line to ensure Hoffenheim returned home with a point.
Number of the game: 100
The goalless draw away to Bayer Leverkusen was Ermin Bičakčić's 100th Bundesliga appearance in a TSG Hoffenheim shirt. He now occupies joint-13th place alongside Adam Szalai in the list of the club's all-time appearance-makers.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen line-up: Hradecky – L. Bender, S. Bender, Tah, Wendell – Aranguiz (Baumgartlinger, 89) – Demirbay (Amiri, 62), Havertz – Bellarabi, Bailey – Volland (Alario, 62)
TSG Hoffenheim line-up: Baumann – Posch, Vogt, Bičakčić (Akpoguma, 73), Stafylidis – Kadeřábek, Rudy, Grillitsch (Samassékou, 83), Geiger, Bebou – Belfodil (Locadia, 62)
Match highlights
A long pass is played to Belfodil, who does well to break through down the right before cutting it back to Kaderabek. The Czech international shoots first-time but his attempt unfortunately takes a deflection off Bebou and sails wide.
TSG create the first chance of the second half when Geiger plays a brilliant through-ball to Belfodil, who goes clean through on the Leverkusen goal. But he is denied by Hradecky.
Huge chance for Bayer when Baumann lets a cross from the left slip through his grasp, but Amiri blazes over with the goal gaping.
Leverkusen take a free-kick quickly. A cross from the right flank takes a deflection on its way into the box and lands at the far post, where Bailey is left with a simple tap-in. But Posch clears with an outstretched leg. In the same passage of play, the Austrian blocks another shot just in front of the line.
Leverkusen take a corner quickly. Bellarabi finds himself in space and fizzes a cross into the middle, but the ball strikes the post. That was lucky!
Match facts and statistics »
