Hoffenheim held by Augsburg

Manager Holger Stanislawski made three changes to the side which were beaten 3-1 by Dortmund last weekend. Edson Braafheid was replaced at left back by Marvin Compper, while Knowledge Musona and Peniel Mlapa came in for Sebastian Rudy and Tobias Weis.

The home side began the game in a lively fashion and dominated the early periods, with Mlapa and Musona looking particularly busy. Tom Starke was called into action to deny Torsten Oehrl on 14 minutes, but the Hoffenheim backline looked otherwise solid. On the half-hour mark, however, Augsburg took the lead. Langkamp touched on a cross from the wing and Mölders was there to sneak in a shot from ten yards (31').Hoffenheim were not behind for long though. Seven minutes before half time, Salihovic picked out the run of Mlapa with a delightful pass and the young striker maintained his composure to lift the ball over Simon Jentsch in the Augsburg goal (38'), despite the despairing last-ditch challenge of Langkamp.

It was the start of a period of concerted pressure by 1899. Roberto Firmino had a shot blocked, before Salihovic went close with a fiercely struck free kick. Hoffenheim were pushing for a second, but the half-time whistle halted their progress, and the sides went into the break level.

Stanislawski can't have said much to his players at the interval, other than to continue what they had been doing at the end of the first half. And continue it they did. After just 48 seconds of the second half, Musona threw himself at a cross from Salihovic, but missed the target by just metres. But moments later, 1899 got the reward their dominance merited. After Firmino was felled by a wild lunge by Jan-Ingwer Callsen-Bracker, referee Markus Wingenbach had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Salihovic stepped up confidently and rolled home for 2-1 (51').

Musona went close again with a dipping drive from distance, but Jentsch pulled off a fantastic save (54'). The game passed the hour mark and Hoffenheim were looking comfortable with a one-goal lead. Oehrl flashed a header over the bar for Augsburg, but they did find their equaliser on 71 minutes. A deep corner from Daniel Baier eluded everyone and there was Langkamp at the far post to nod in from close range.

The away team did actually come close to winning the game when Mölders' effort hit the crossbar and a header form Callsen-Bracker was touched onto the post by a crucial save from Starke (77', 80'). The last few moments of the game passed without much incident, though, as both sides looked rather fatigued and an equaliser did not look like coming. Referee Wingenbach then soon called time on an entertaining 2-2 draw.

Next week, TSG 1899 Hoffenheim face Werder Bremen away in the Bundesliga, looking to better the 2-1 home defeat they suffered earlier in the season.

Match facts and statistics »