Back and forth – Hoffenheim pick up a point against BVB

And this starting eleven rewarded the manager with a strong performance. Right from the first second, there was a battling, self-sacrificing team on the field, and it was one ready to go the distance and take on each challenge. An intense game with tempo and passion developed.

The visitors had more possession but Hoffenheim were a constant threat on the break. And, on one of these counterattacks, Sven Schipplock was put through by Roberto Firmino. The striker dinked his shot over Mitch Langerak to give TSG an 18th minute lead. The game continued to be back and forth in front of a sold-out crowd in Sinsheim.

Volland doubles up

Hoffenheim had the next attack as well. In the 37th minute, Firmino danced around three BVB players, before passing to Sebastian Rudy. The midfielder in turn passed to Kevin Volland on the right-hand side of the area and the striker curled the ball into the far corner to make it 2-0 TSG.

Defensively, Hoffenheim gave everything. Süle and Vestergaard made Lewandowski's life difficult, Polanski and Rudy cleared up in defensive midfield, while Herdling and Volland helped out when things got tricky. Everything was going to plan, right up until the 44th minute. Then the Hoffenheim defence made an error and Aubameyang took advantage to make it 2-1.

Dortmund equalise

Hoffenheim shrugged off the goal they conceded and continued to battle. Dortmund started to push towards an equaliser, but there were no goal chances as Hoffenheim stayed defensively focused.

Visiting manager Jürgen Klopp made changes to his team in the 66th minute. Hofmann and Henrikh Mkhitaryan came on for Blaszczykowski and Aubameyang. And moments later, the visitors equalised to make it 2-2. Sahin crossed for Piszczek and the Polish defender poked home from close-range after Grahl had initially made a strong reflex save.

Battle to the end

Markus Gisdol also made changes – Salihovic came on for the goalscorer Schipplock. The Hoffenheim fans realised that their team needed support and upped their efforts one more time: “Stand up, if you're a Hoffe fan,” was the sound ringing from the stands.

But the visitors grew stronger. In the 75th minute, Grahl denied Lewandowski with the help of the post. Hoffenheim had to summon all their strength and energy one more time. And in the 84th minute, the team were nearly rewarded for it. Salihovic's free kick found Firmino's head but the ball just went wide of the post. Marco Reus's volley three minutes later also just went wide.

The game was on a knife edge, and in the space of a minute there were chances for either side. Volland here, Schieber there. Incredible. It finished a thrilling 2-2. What an important point this is for Hoffenheim.

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