FIRST TEAM

05/03/2024

TSG snatch a late point against Leipzig

A last-minute draw: TSG Hoffenheim have drawn 1-1 (0-1) against RB Leipzig. TSG played very well in the first half and had several opportunities to take the lead, but Benjamin Sesko, 38, scored for Leipzig. Kramarić missed a big chance to score the equaliser immediately after the break, and TSG played almost 20 minutes with an extra man after Xavi Simons was sent off in the 72nd minute. Andrej Kramarić then scored a late but deserved equaliser in the 90th minute.

Line-up

Head coach Pellegrino Matarazzo made four changes to his starting XI compared to the 3-2 defeat at VfL Bochum, with Kevin Akpoguma, Anton Stach, Marius Bülter and Ihlas Bebou starting in place of Tim Drexler, Umut Tohumcu, Robert Skov and Wout Weghorst.

The scenario

TSG went into Matchday 32 in ninth place in the table on 39 points. RB Leipzig had already secured their place in the UEFA Champions League in fourth place.

Moment of the match

The equaliser: TSG tried in vain to get an equaliser for what seemed like an eternity before Andrej Kramarić gave the Hoffenheim fans what they had been waiting for. The Croatian got on the end of a Marius Bülter cross and headed the ball into the bottom left corner to give TSG a deserved equaliser.

Number of the match: 1

Max Moerstedt made his first appearance in the Bundesliga. His substitution in the 80th minute marked the debut for the U17 World Cup winner.

Emotional moment of the match

Around 15 minutes before kick-off, Leipzig's Christoph Baumgartner was given a fitting send-off by TSG Hoffenheim in the PreZero Arena. The Austrian played for TSG between 2017 and 2023 and was back in Sinsheim for the first time with the away side.

Outlook

TSG Hoffenheim travel to SV Darmstadt 98 next week in what will be Darmstadt’s last Bundesliga home game for at least one season. Kick-off is at 15:30 CEST on Sunday 12 May.

Match stats

Line-ups:

TSG Hoffenheim: Baumann – Ozan Kabak (Moerstedt, 79), Grillitsch, Akpoguma – Kadeřábek, Stach (Bischof, 79), Prömel, Bülter – Bebou (Conté, 90+1), Beier (Jurásek, 67) – Kramarić

RB Leipzig: Gulasci – Henrichs, Lukeba, Orban, Raum – Schlager (Seiwald, 16), Haidara (Simakan, 77) – Olmo (Kampl, 77), Xavi Simons – Sesko (Baumgartner, 60), Openda (Poulsen, 77)

Goals: 0-1 Sesko (38), 1-1 Kramarić (90)

Red card (second yellow card): Xavi Simons (72)

Match highlights

17. Min.

Baumann makes a strong save

A through ball sends Xavi clean through against Baumann, but the TSG keeper makes a strong save one-on-one.

20. Min.

Kramarić can’t find the corner

Akpoguma wins the ball impressively and sets up Kramarić. The Croatian shoots from more than 20 metres out, but Gulasci is able to make the save.

37. Min.

Gulasci comes out on top again

Akpoguma wins the ball in the opposition penalty area and sets up Kramarić. He dances his way past one defender and then shoots from a tight angle from the left. Unfortunately, it’s too close to Gulasci, who again makes the save.

38. Min.

Sesko gives Leipzig the lead

It’s a bitter pill to swallow: Sesko finds himself free in front of Baumann after a cross. His header isn’t the best, but Baumann can't keep it out of the net and the ball rolls over the line.

40. Min.

Bebou misses the chance to equalise

A huge chance for the perfect response: Stach crosses perfectly to Bebou, who is in acres of space, but he heads straight into the arms of Gulasci. That should have been the equaliser.

49. Min.

Kramarić misses the equaliser

It should have been the equaliser again. A through ball finds Kramarić in space in front of Gulasci, but again his shots is too close to the Leipzig keeper, who makes the save with his foot.