Quarterfinal here we come! TSG win at Schalke

There were three changes to the side that drew 4-4 with Bremen on Saturday, all of them coming in the defensive department. As in the second round, Jens Grahl took Koen Casteels' place in goal, while the knocks to Sejad Salihovic and David Abraham meant they were rested, with Jeremy Toljan and Jannik Vestergaard coming in. That defensive area was certainly busy during the opening stages, as it was quite clear that manager Markus Gisdol's plan was to play on the counter, perhaps in the hope of experiencing a normal game. Despite enjoying plenty of the ball, Schalke failed to test Grahl in the first quarter of an hour, with Hoffenheim having the better chances. TSG's counterattacking style was looking dangerous and it bore fruit in the 21st minute. Kai Herdling picked up the ball on the left wing, before cutting back to cross into the box with his right. Christian Fuchs couldn't get there and Kevin Volland let it bounce, allowing the ball to go straight into the net beyond Ralf Fährmann.

It was a slender lead that Gisdol would have been delighted to see intact at half time, especially after what happened against Bremen, but the manager won't have been expecting what came next. Hoffenheim's switching from defence to attack was proving too much for Schalke and goal number two came with a clinical counterattack. Sven Schipplock took advantage of Jermaine Jones' slip and squared the ball to Roberto Firmino, who in turn found Volland. The Germany U21 international's left-footed sweeping shot went through the S04 keeper's legs and TSG had a deserved two-goal advantage. But they weren't done there. Just three minutes later, Jones was at fault again as his clearance hit Sebastian Rudy and landed perfectly at Firmino's feet. The Brazilian wasted no time in burying a shot past Fährmann from 12 yards to give Hoffenheim an unexpected 3-0 lead at half time.

S04 start to turn the tide

Schalke manager Jens Keller unsurprisingly made changes at the break as the hosts looked for a way back into the game. S04 captain Benedikt Höwedes came close but couldn't keep his half volley down. TSG were struggling to counterattack as successfully as they had in the first half, with Volland the only player to test Fährmann in the opening stages of the second period. Understandably, the pressure on the Hoffenheim back line increased and it wasn't long before Grahl had to intervene. Julian Draxler worked himself a few yards of space outside the area and unleashed a dangerous left-footed strike that required a superb tip onto the post from TSG's number 2 keeper. That reprieve lasted just minutes though as S04's quest to come back picked up steam in the 67th minute. The Royal Blues outnumbered their counterparts in yellow on a break of their own, as Adam Szalai fed through Jefferson Farfan, who added to his two goals from the weekend with a curler into the far corner.

Gisdol reacted by bringing on Tobias Strobl for Volland in the hope of avoiding a quick double blow. It seemed to do the trick as Schalke were limited to an effort from substitute Max Meyer that went comfortably wide of the upright. Hoffenheim even had the chance to wrap up victory in the final minute of normal time when Modeste – having earlier been brought on for the yellow-carded Schipplock – went through one-on-one, but the Frenchman couldn't direct his effort around Fährmann. He even got a second bite of the cherry in added time after Firmino's through ball, but once again the Schalke keeper denied him. Tarik Elyounoussi was brought on in the final seconds to run down the clock, but the hosts knew that they were already beaten. The final whistle signalled a sensational 3-1 win for TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, one that puts them into the quarterfinals of the German Cup for the second time in three seasons. Markus Gisdol will have been delighted with his side's performance against his former club, particularly their first-half counterattacking masterclass. His players will no doubt be looking forward to the draw on Sunday, but before then, Hoffenheim have to focus on Saturday's Bundesliga meeting with Eintracht Frankfurt – a game they can go into full of confidence.

Matt Hardy

FC Schalke 04: Fährmann – Uchida (46' Hoogland), Höwedes, Matip (81' Obasi), Fuchs – Jones, Neustädter (46' Meyer) – Farfan, Boateng, Draxler – Szalai

TSG 1899 Hoffenheim: Grahl – Beck, Süle, Vestergaard, Toljan – Polanski, Rudy – Volland (72' Strobl), Firmino, Herdling (90' Elyounoussi) – Schipplock (60' Modeste)

Goals: 0-1 Herdling (21'), 0-2 Volland (32'), 0-3 Firmino (35'), 1-3 Farfan (67')

Yellow cards: Uchida, Höwedes, Draxler, Szalai – Volland, Schipplock, Herdling

Referee: Knut Kircher

Attendance: 51,078

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