Narrow loss in Leipzig

TSG Hoffenheim lost 1-0 (1-0) away to RB Leipzig. After TSG had fallen behind to Christopher Nkunku's goal in the first half (28), Leipzig failed to convert further big chances. Hoffenheim got a slightly better foothold in the game after the break but Leipzig defended consistently and secured the home win.

The line-up

Head coach Pellegrino Matarazzo made two changes to the starting XI that lost 3-1 to 1. FC Cologne. Ozan Kabak and Munas Dabbur replaced Kevin Vogt and Finn Ole Becker.

The scenario

TSG went into the game in 14th position with 29 points on the board. Leipzig, meanwhile, were in fifth place with 51 points.

Number of the game: 175

After suffering an ankle injury in the reverse fixture against Leipzig, Grischa Prömel had to wait 175 days to make his Bundesliga comeback. The midfielder returned to first-team action with TSG for the first time on Saturday, making a substitute appearance in the 61st minute.

Moment of the match

The 38th minute: TSG Hoffenheim had little in the way of chances in the first half but Ihlas Bebou should have scored the equaliser shortly before the interval. Munas Dabbur failed to beat Janis Blaswich following a cross from Pavel Kadeřábek and the loose ball landed at the feet of Bebou, who fired over from seven metres out with the goal gaping.

Landmark appearance

The 1-0 loss at RB Leipzig was Dennis Geiger's 100th Bundesliga match. The midfielder has played all of those games in a TSG Hoffenheim shirt.

Outlook

TSG Hoffenheim will host Eintracht Frankfurt next Saturday. Kick-off is at 15:30 CET.

Stats

Line-ups

RB Leipzig: Blaswich – Klostermann, Orban, Gvardiol (Diallo, 60) – Simakan (Henrichs, 81), Laimer, Kampl, Raum (Halstenberg, 60) – Forsberg (Dani Olmo, 60), Nkunku (André Silva, 60) – Werner

TSG Hoffenheim: Baumann – Ozan Kabak, Brooks, Akpgouma – Kadeřábek (Skov, 69), Geiger (Rudy, 61), Angeliño (Nsoki, 46) – Kramarić, Baumgartner (Prömel, 61) – Bebou (Dolberg, 81), Dabbur

Goal: 1-0 Nkunku (28)

Match highlights

2. Min.

Leipzig with the first big chance straightaway

TSG lose the ball in the middle and Leipzig go forward at speed. Nkunku is played through and initially goes past Kabak, who then makes up the ground and blocks the ball to avert the danger.

10. Min.

Baumann on hand

Laimer shoots from the edge of the box and Baumann has to dive at full stretch to parry the ball to safety.

14. Min.

Werner spurns the next big opportunity

TSG get a big slice of luck: Werner intercepts Geiger’s pass to Kadeřábek and is suddenly clean through on Baumann – but then fires over the crossbar.

28. Min.

Nkunku puts Leipzig in the lead

Brooks plays the ball straight to the feet of Laimer. The Austrian finds Forsberg, who quickly plays it through to Nkunku in attack. The Frenchman stays ice cool in front of Baumann and fires Leipzig ahead.

38. Min.

Bebou misses chance to level

That should’ve been 1-1: Kadeřábek drives the ball forward and finds Dabbur, whose shot fails to beat Blaswich. The ball then falls to Bebou, who fires over from seven metres out with the goal gaping.