TSG record important win in Bochum

An important victory in the relegation battle: TSG Hoffenheim claimed a 1-0 (0-0) win away to VfL Bochum. Both teams were almost completely devoid of any moments of danger in front of goal in a dogged and intense first half, with the hotly contested action predominantly taking place between the two penalty areas. The spectators witnessed a similar picture after the interval too – until Tom Bischof put TSG ahead with a long-range shot (72). TSG defended energetically after that and managed to hold on for the three points, which lifted the team away from the relegation places in the table.

Line-up

Head coach Christian Ilzer made four changes to his starting line-up compared to the 1-1 draw against VfB Stuttgart: Oliver Baumann returned in goal, while Leo Østigård, Pavel Kadeřábek and Max Moerstedt came back into the first XI too.

The scenario

TSG went into Matchday 24 in 14th place, while Bochum were in 16th, the relegation play-off place, with five points fewer on the board.

Number of the game: 17

TSG won in Bochum for the first and – up until this current clash – only time almost 17 years ago. Now Hoffenheim have followed up their 2008 triumph with another victory.

Moment of the match

Tom Bischof scored his fourth goal of the season in Bochum – with Timo Horn in the VfL goal not covering himself in glory – and secured his team three important away points with his long-range shot.

Comeback of the day

Oliver Baumann had missed six competitive matches due to injury – it is the longest TSG have ever had to do without him. The international goalkeeper returned to action in Bochum.

Outlook

TSG will continue their campaign with another relegation battle when they play host to 1. FC Heidenheim on Sunday next week. Kick-off is at 17:30 CET.

Stats

Line-ups

VfL Bochum: Horn – Oermann, Medic, Bernardo – Passlack (Miyoshi, 75), Sissoko (Pannewig, 87), Krauß (Krauß, 80), Bero, Wittek (Bamba, 87) – Hofmann, Masouras (Broschinski, 75)

TSG Hoffenheim: Baumann – Kadeřábek, Arthur Chaves (Akpoguma, 58), Østigård, Prass – Becker, Stach – Bischof, Kramarić (Nsoki, 88), Moerstedt (Tabaković, 58) – Orban (Touré, 84)

Goal: 0-1 Bischof (72)

Match highlights

10. Min.

Medic fails to open scoring

There's grave danger in the TSG box after a free-kick: Hofmann first gets to the ball at the back post and – with his back to goal – lays it off to Passlack. His shot is blocked but the ball loops up into the air and over towards the other side of the goal, where Medic gets his head to it from a metre out but cannot direct it goalbound.

40. Min.

Kramaric fires over

After some lovely link-up play, Orban plays the ball across goal and Moerstedt heads it on towards Kramaric. The Croat controls the ball but then fires his shot narrowly over the bar.

54. Min.

Chaves intervenes

What a defensive intervention by Arthur Chaves! After some good link-up play, Bero gets a shot away from seven metres out but Chaves throws himself into the path of the ball and clears for a corner.

72. Min.

Bischof scores!

Hoffenheim lead in Bochum! Bischof latches onto a clearance around 25 metres in front of the box, sets himself up and takes a shot. The ball bounces up in front of Horn and then over the keeper, who does not cover himself in glory.