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Hoffenheim beaten by Stuttgart
Head coach Pellegrino Matarazzo made five changes to the starting line-up from the 3-1 defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt: Tim Drexler and Pavel Kadeřábek moved into the starting XI in place of the suspended John Anthony Brooks and Ozan Kabak, with David Jurásek starting instead of Stanley Nsoki. In addition, Wout Weghorst and Umut Tohumcu replaced Andrej Kramarić and Finn Becker.
The scenario
TSG Hoffenheim were seventh in the table ahead of the match, while VfB Stuttgart were riding high in third.
Moment of the match
The 2-0 goal: right on the stroke of the half-time whistle, Serhou Guirassy increased Stuttgart's lead and put the away side on track for victory.
Number of the game: 21
TSG have been waiting some 21 games now for a clean sheet – they have only managed to avoid conceding in one game this season.
Debut of the game
Pellegrino Matarazzo put his trust in two players making their debut in the starting 11: TSG academy player Tim Drexler and Benfica loanee David Jurásek were in the starting line-up against VfB Stuttgart for the first time in the Bundesliga.
Outlook
The international break will now begin, with no Bundesliga games next weekend. TSG will next play on Holy Saturday (30 March), when they will travel to play unbeaten league leaders Bayer 04 Leverkusen. Kick-off in that one is at 15:30 CET.
Summary
Line-ups:
TSG Hoffenheim: Baumann – Drexler, Grillitsch, Akpoguma (Nsoki, 46) – Kadeřábek (Skov, 78), Stach (Becker, 67), Tohumcu, Jurásek – Bebou (Bülter, 67), Weghorst (Kramarić, 67), Beier
VfB Stuttgart: Nübel – Vagnoman, Anton (Stergiou, 83), Ito, Mittelstädt – Stiller, Karazor – Millot (Jeong, 75), Undav (Leweling, 64), Führich (Silas, 75) – Guirassy (Dahoud, 83)
Goals: 0-1 Millot (16), 0-2 Guirassy (45+1), 0-3 Leweling (68)
Match highlights
Double chance for Stuttgart
Stach's pass to Grillitsch is too short, allowing Guirassy to intercept. He sets up Millot, but Baumann diverts the ball out for a corner. The resulting corner also looks dangerous, but Baumann clutches Ito's shot to his chest.
Millot scores for Stuttgart
It had been coming. Stuttgart take advantage of a long period of possession and take the lead. Guirassy finds Undav, who sends Millot through. The Stuttgart striker stays cool in front of Baumann and prods the ball into the bottom-left corner of the goal.
Baumann shows strong reflexes
Almost the second goal for Millot: Guirassy sets up his compatriot, but his fierce volley is saved by Baumann, who needs excellent reflexes to get his fists up to block the shot.
Millot goes close again
TSG have to be careful: Millot goes past Jurasek down the right and into the penalty area, but his shot from an acute angle narrowly misses the goal.
Guirassy doubles the lead
That was far too easy: Vagnoman has a lot of space in the middle and tees up Undav. He plays Guirassy through, who fires home without great difficulty. A bitter pill to swallow just before the break.
Beier goes close
A great opportunity for Hoffenheim: Jurasek drives a low cross into the penalty area from the left. Beier gets on the end of it, but does not connect with the ball properly. The striker, who has just been called up for the senior German national side, could have done better with that.
Baumann saves
Fürich tees up the completely free Undav, who tries to sidefoot it home, but Baumann gets down quickly and tips the ball past the post.
VfB score again
A corner from the right initially misses everyone in the middle, but Leweling is waiting at the far post, and takes the ball down before firing a powerful shot into the far corner.
Match facts and statistics »
