FIRST TEAM
03/10/2012

Hoffenheim luckless in Munich

TSG 1899 Hoffenheim were well beaten by FC Bayern Munich in the Allianz Arena, succumbing to a 7-1 defeat. Mario Gomez notched a hat-trick for the Reds, while Arjen Robben (2), Franck Ribéry and Toni Kroos were the other scorers. Luis Gustavo's own goal gave Hoffenheim a consolation effort.

Manager Markus Babbel made two changes to the eleven that drew against 1. FC Köln on matchday 24. Opting for a 4-1-4-1 formation, Srdjan Lakic's injury meant Ryan Babel played up front on his own, with Isaac Vorsah slotting into a defensive midfield position just in front of the back four. USA international Daniel Williams was utilised at right back in place of the suspended Andreas Beck, while Edson Braafheid came in to replace Fabian Johnson on the left side of defence.

Dream start for FCB, nightmare for TSG

Hoffenheim's remit before the game had been to stay solid and compact at the back, but it took just five minutes for Bayern to breach their defences. Tom Starke could only parry Thomas Müller's fizzing cross, and Gomez was on hand to open the scoring. Seven minutes later it was 2-0, as referee Marco Fritz gave a penalty after Marvin Compper's challenge on Philipp Lahm. The TSG defender protested that he had gone for the ball, but Fritz waved him away. Robben stepped up to convert and suddenly Babel's team had it all to do (12').

TSG had difficulty holding onto possession and after losing the ball in their own half, they soon found themselves 3-0 down. Isaac Vorsah's misplaced pass gave the hosts possession and the ball found its way to Kroos. He took aim from 25 yards and his low drive beat Tom Starke (18') to make it four. Robben then added his second after rounding Starke, before Gomez also doubled his tally for the day, heading in Franck Ribéry's cross (29', 39'). Roberto Firmino did well to have an attempt at Manuel Neuer's goal, after good build up work involving Tobias Weis and Ryan Babel (37'). But the first 45 minutes had belonged to the home side.

A similar pattern

The half time break may have provided some respite for Hoffenheim, but normal service was resumed just three minutes after the restart. Robben floated in a corner and Gomez sealed his hat-trick with the decisive touch (48'). Bayern's seventh came directly from a Hoffenheim corner. Robben broke at pace and played in Ribéry, who managed to beat Starke from a tight angle (58').

With the scoreline as it was, all 1899 could do was play for pride. They managed to retain the ball better in the second half, although they struggled to really test Neuer in the Bayern goal. One positive for Babbel was Sandro Wieser's Bundesliga debut. The former FC Basel man replaced Firmino just after the hour-mark and acquitted himself well in the game.

Late consolation

The last meaningful action of the match gave Hoffenheim a consolation goal. Former 1899 midfielder Luis Gustavo's slip allowed in Babel and the Dutchman was one-on-one with Neuer. He hesitated in pulling the trigger, and allowed Gustavo to get a recovering challenge in. But the Brazilian's touch inadvertently sent the ball past his keeper and into the net (85'). The referee brought an end to the game shortly afterwards and condemned Hoffenheim to their defeat under new manager Babbel.

He remains without an away win as a manager against the club where he played between 1994 and 2000. Hoffenheim's next league fixture is a home clash against another of Babbel's old teams, VfB Stuttgart.

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