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Decisive double whammy: TSG lose in Leipzig
Line-up
Head coach Pellegrino Matarazzo made three changes to the starting line-up that claimed a 3-1 win over VfL Bochum last time out: Ozan Kabak, Robert Skov and Ihlas Bebou started in place of Attila Szalai, Umut Tohumcu and Wout Weghorst.
The scenario
Leipzig went into the matchday in fourth place, while TSG were six points behind in sixth place.
Moment of the match
Leipzig goalkeeper Janis Blaswich made a strong reflex save with the score at 1-1 to stop Anton Stach, who had met a corner-kick with a header, from opening the scoring for TSG (67). Shortly afterwards, Emil Forsberg put the home team on the path to victory.
Number of the game: 19
TSG Hoffenheim scored for the 19th Bundesliga game in a row and equalled the club record in the top flight – only between 2016 and 2017 did TSG have such a long scoring run in the top tier.
Farewell of the evening
Emil Forsberg played his final home game for RB Leipzig ahead of his expected transfer to New York – he decided the game by scoring and helping to set up the goal that made it 3-1.
Outlook
TSG Hoffenheim will play their final match of the calendar year on Tuesday: Pellegrino Matarazzo's team will play host to SV Darmstadt 98 at 20:30 CET. There will then be a brief winter break, before the campaign continues away to FC Bayern Munich on 12 January.
Stats
Line-ups:
RB Leipzig: Blaswich – Heinrichs, Simakan (Lukeba, 83), Klostermann, Raum – Haidara (Kampl, 58), Schlager – Baumgartner (Forsberg, 66), Xavi (Fabio Carvalho, 83) – Poulsen, Openda (Sesko, 83)
TSG Hoffenheim: Baumann – Ozan Kabak (Akpoguma, 75), Brooks, Vogt – Kadeřábek (Nsoki, 90), Prömel, Stach (Bischof, 75), Skov (Grillitsch, 46) – Kramarić, Bebou (Beier, 69), Bülter
Goals: 1-0 Klostermann (34), 1-1 Ozan Kabak (42), 2-1 Forsberg (70), 3-1 Simakan (74)
Match highlights
Hoffe almost take the lead
The first real clear chance! Kramaric crosses from the right towards the back post. Baumgartner’s attempted clearance does not make contact with the ball and Skov shoots behind him, but misses the target narrowly.
Klostermann opens the scoring for RB
Poulsen chips the ball into the middle from a free-kick and although Simakan’s shot is initially blocked, Klostermann is behind him to hammer the ball into the back of the net.
Kabak scores for Hoffe
Skov delivers a free-kick from a centre-left position into the box. Blaswich comes out but misjudges it and is beaten to the ball by Kabak, who heads home the equaliser.
Xavi hits the post
The PSG loanee strikes the ball from long range but his shot hits the inside of the upright. Baumann would’ve had no chance.
Stach misses chance to take lead
Big chance for Hoffenheim: Kramaric delivers a corner into the penalty area, where Stach meets the ball with a header. Blaswich reacts lightning-quick and manages to parry the ball.
Forsberg puts Leipzig back in front
Openda switches from the left to the other side. Forsberg controls the ball perfectly and thunders it unstoppably past Baumann and into the net.
Simakan makes decisive block
TSG almost hit back immediately: Prömel lays off to Kramaric, who shoots, but Simakan throws himself into the path of the shot and keeps out a potential equaliser.
Double whammy for Leipzig
Raum delivers a corner towards the near post and Forsberg steers it dangerously towards goal; Baumann makes the saves but Simakan slots home on the follow-up.
Match facts and statistics »
