FIRST TEAM

01/27/2024

Hard-fought draw against Heidenheim

TSG Hoffenheim have drawn 1-1 (1-1) with 1. FC Heidenheim. Andrej Kramarić restored parity thanks to a penalty awarded for handball shortly before the interval (45+7), after Eren Dinkci had fired Heidenheim into the lead (29). TSG had numerous opportunities to take the lead in the second period but the ball didn't want to go into the net.

Line-ups

Head coach Pellegrino Matarazzo made three changes to the starting XI compared to the 3-2 defeat at SC Freiburg. Kevin Akpoguma, John Anthony Brooks and Grischa Prömel started in place of the suspended Ozan Kabak, Marius Bülter and the injured Finn Becker.

The scenario

TSG went into the matchday in eighth place in the table with 24 points. 1. FC Heidenheim were one place and two points behind.

Moment of the match

The sixth minute of stoppage time: TSG had the opportunity to win but Marius Bülter's header following a cross from Skov was kept out from very close range by Kevin Müller, who made a strong save with the help of the upright.

Number of the game: 39

There were 39 days between the final home game of last year and the first match in front of home supporters in 2024. TSG drew 3-3 with SV Darmstadt 98 on 19 December.

Penalty specialist

Andrej Kramarić equalised from the penalty spot on the stroke of half-time. It was already the Croat's fifth penalty goal this season. No Bundesliga player has scored more often from the spot this term.

Outlook

TSG Hoffenheim will pay a visit to VfL Wolfsburg next week. Kick-off is at 15:30 CET on Sunday.

Stats

Line-ups:

TSG Hoffenheim: Baumann – Akpoguma, Grillitsch, Brooks – Kadeřábek (Skov, 63), Prömel, Stach (Tohumcu, 63), Nsoki – Kramarić (Bischof, 86) – Weghorst (Bülter, 86), Beier (Bebou, 74)

1. FC Heidenheim: Müller – Traore, Mainka, Gimber (Siersleben, 46), Föhrenbach – Maloney – Beck (Sessa, 71), Schöppner – Dinkci (Pieringer, 71), Beste (Busch, 87) – Kleindienst

Goals: 0-1 Dinkci (29), 1-1 Kramarić (pen., 45+7)

Match highlights

15. Min.

Weghorst spurns chance to take lead

That should've been the opener: Müller plays the ball straight to the feet of Stach, who then squares to Weghorst in the box. The striker doesn't pick out the net but is instead blocked and his follow-up doesn't find the goal.

29. Min.

Heidenheim's opener

TSG are mercilessly hit on the counter. Dinkci wins back the ball, plays a pass into the middle and immediately runs onto the return ball. He keeps his cool in front of Baumann and finds the bottom right corner.

45 + 7. Min.

Leveller on the stroke of half-time

Weghorst and Beier go on the attack and bring the ball into the box. Gimber goes towards it with an arm and a penalty is awarded by the VAR. Kramarić steps up and converts comfortably into the bottom right corner.

20240127 sap tsg hoffenheim heidenheim10

48. Min.

Grillitsch from distance

What a start to the second half: Grillitsch breaks through down the left, cuts into the middle and shoots from 30 metres, but Müller claws the ball away from the corner.

20240127 sap tsg hoffenheim heidenheim15

50. Min.

Müller saves with his foot

That should've been 2-1: Kadeřábek heads a second ball back into the centre following a corner and Beier has a free shot from six metres out but is denied by Müller, who makes a sensational stop with his foot.

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75. Min.

Bebou narrowly wide

Bebou makes an immediate impact from the bench: Weghorst finds the pacey forward, who targets the far corner from a position on the right but fires narrowly wide of the back post.

90 + 6. Min.

Late chance for a winner

There's one more chance for a winner: but Bülter is denied by Kevin Müller from close range following a deflected cross and the ball doesn't want to cross the line in the ensuing scramble either.