Fanshop
Kramarić masterclass steers TSG into group stages
Personnel & tactics:
Matthias Kaltenbach and his coaching team made two changes to the TSG Hoffenheim starting XI that beat Union Berlin 4-0, with Sebastian Rudy and Diadie Samassékou replacing Ermin Bičakčić and Dennis Geiger. That double switch prompted a tactical change too, with Florian Grillitsch dropping back and playing alongside captain Benjamin Hübner and Stefan Posch in the three-man defence protecting goalkeeper Oliver Baumann. Pavel Kadeřábek (right) and Robert Skov (left) kept their places at wing-back, while Rudy partnered Samassékou in central defensive midfield and Andrej Kramarić played just behind the front two of Ihlas Bebou and Munas Dabbur.
TSG made their first switch in the 56th minute with Christoph Baumgartner replacing Dabbur in attack. Having scored all four goals, Kramarić was given a well-deserved rest with 20 minutes to go and replaced by Jacob Bruun Larsen. Simultaneously, Skov made way for Steven Zuber on the left flank (70). Another double substitution followed with seven minutes to go, as Samassékou and Hübner made way for Ermin Bičakčić and Håvard Nordtveit.
Moment of the match:
The final whistle: at 17:22 CET, referee Guido Winkmann blew the final whistle. Having rounded off the season with three wins, TSG wrapped up sixth spot and qualified automatically for the UEFA Europa League group phase.
Number of the game: 4
For the first time ever, a TSG Hoffenheim player scored four goals in a Bundesliga match. Andrej Kramarić marked his 150th competitive appearance for the Kraichgau club with two goals in each half. As VfL Wolfsburg lost to Bayern Munich, those goals were enough to secure TSG an automatic place in the UEFA Europa League group stages.
Line-ups:
Borussia Dortmund: Bürki – Piszczek (Schulz, 71), Hummels, Balerdi (Zagadou, 65) – Morey, Witsel, Brandt, Guerreiro (Hakimi, 46) – Hazard (Sancho, 46), Reyna (Röschl, 65) – Haaland
TSG Hoffenheim: Baumann – Posch, Grillitsch, Hübner (Bicakcic, 83) – Kadeřábek, Rudy, Samassékou (Nordtveit, 83), Skov (Zuber, 70) – Kramarić (Bruun Larsen, 70) – Bebou, Dabbur (Baumgartner, 56)
Goals: 0-1 Kramarić (8), 0-2 Kramarić (30), 0-3 Kramarić (48), 0-4 Kramarić (penalty, 50)
Match highlights
Piszczek meets a corner with a header at the near post that looks destined for the far corner of the goal, only for Baumann to make a spectacular save.
Bebou plays the ball to Kadeřábek on the right flank. The Czechia international looks up and plays the ball perfectly into the path of Kramarić, whose shot from almost 20 metres zips straight into the top corner.
Kadeřábek wins the aerial battle and Rudy subsequently switches the play at speed with a perfect pass into the path of Kramarić. But the Croat shoots from a slightly narrower angle and misses the target by some distance.
Bebou is played in behind the defence. Having reached the byline, he cuts the ball back towards the far post. Skov shoots at goal and the unmarked Kramarić sticks a foot out to divert it into the net.
The Kramaric masterclass continues as TSG hit Dortmund on the counter and make it 3-0. Following a throw-in, Bebou passes from the left to the unmarked Kramaric, who sidesteps Piszczek and nutmegs Bürki.
Crazy scenes in Dortmund. Munas Dabbur is pushed to the ground in an aerial duel with Hummels and referee Winkmann opts for a penalty kick. Kramaric picks up the ball and fires the ensuing spot-kick low into the bottom left corner. That's his fourth goal of the day!
TSG are playing Dortmund off the park. Skov goes close with another attempt, but Bürki fishes the ball out of the bottom corner with his fingertips.
Next chance for Hoffenheim. Rudy plays a brilliant cross from the right into the centre, but Baumgartner’s header is turned over the bar by Bürki.
Match facts and statistics »
