FIRST TEAM
03/29/2014

Sensational! TSG end Bayern's winning run with deserved draw

What a performance from TSG 1899 Hoffenheim! Markus Gisdol's side claimed a deserved 3-3 draw with early title-winners FC Bayern Munich in the Allianz Arena. Modeste put the visitors into a surprise lead, but the record champions bounced back with three goals in the space of ten minutes. However, TSG never gave up and fought back thanks to a Salihovic free kick and a Firmino strike in the 75th minute.

For the third time in a row, the TSG manager named an unchanged side for the trip to FC Bayern. After all, that same starting XI had won the previous two games, the first back-to-back Bundesliga victories under Markus Gisdol. There was no overstating the task ahead of Hoffenheim, with the newly crowned German champions perhaps currently the best team in club football. However, the visitors started full of energy and pressed high up the pitch, not allowing their opponents in red much time to settle. However, it was clear that that tactic wouldn't be possible over the whole 90 minutes and Bayern's dominant passing play soon came to the fore. Chances were few and far between in the opening stages though. It was a mistake that eventually provided the first opportunity, with Daniel van Buyten the guilty party. FCB were too relaxed with their passing at the back and the Belgian defender sold his keeper Tom Starke short. Anthony Modeste almost nipped in, but his stretched attempt was closed down by the former TSG keeper.

Bayern soon regained their composure but after 20 minutes, Jens Grahl was still untested. Then came the moment the travelling fans had hoped for. Hoffenheim started a counter and Modeste was all alone in the home side's half. Starke made the initial save, but the ball wriggled free and the Frenchman got there first to poke home the rebound and give TSG an unlikely 1-0 lead. The goalscorer had to leave the pitch injured not long after, and while Hoffenheim were briefly down to ten men, Bayern pounced. Xherdan Shaqiri crossed from the right and Claudio Pizarro headed in the equaliser. TSG finally managed to bring on substitute Tarik Elyounoussi after the goal had gone in, but even eleven men weren't able to stop Bayern's brutal attack. Shaqiri himself put the hosts in front just three minutes later, before Pizarro made it 3-1 from a devastating counterattack to complete ten minutes of devastating football from the record champions. Hoffenheim managed to have to last laugh before the break though. Sejad Salihovic demonstrated his ability from set-pieces, curling a sensational free kick into the top corner to end a furious first 45 with Gisdol's men trailing 3-2.

Firmino and Grahl make the difference

TSG's aim in the second half was now to become the first side to score three goals against FC Bayern in the Bundesliga this season. But if they were going to take something from the game, they couldn't afford any more goals to go in. The home side were in no mood to sit back though and looked to put the game to bed; a dangerous attack up the left flank was only just stopped at the pivotal moment by a good tackle from Jannik Vestergaard. Shaqiri had Bayern's next chance but he couldn't wrap his foot around a left-footed volley and the ball floated over. Hoffenheim hadn't disappeared from the game though. Salihovic's cross from the right was met by the head of Roberto Firmino, but the Brazilian couldn't generate enough power and Starke could easily save.

Pep Guardiola's side weren't looking their usual menacing selves and Grahl still hadn't made a save in the second half after 75 minutes. TSG constantly carried a threat going forward and errors were starting to creep into Bayern's game. With 15 minutes to play, Firmino made a nuisance of himself on the edge of the box and somehow found a bit of space to unleash a grass-cutter into the bottom-right corner of the goal that was out of Tom Starke's reach. Sensationally, Hoffenheim were back on level terms and the finish line was in sight. A shock result was on the cards, but TSG needed a phenomenal save from Grahl to make it happen. Substitute Arjen Robben was put clean through and the Hoffenheim keeper stood his ground brilliantly and made a superb one-handed save. If that wasn't remarkable enough, the visitors almost nicked all three points at the other end but Starke also pulled off a fine stop to keep out Sebastian Rudy. That was the last action as Hoffenheim saw the result over the line to claim an unexpected but fully deserved point in Munich.

Matt Hardy

FC Bayern Munich: Starke – Rafinha, Dante, van Buyten, Contento – Schweinsteiger – Shaqiri, Thiago (25' Lahm), Götze (46' Mandzukic), Ribéry (76' Robben) – Pizarro

TSG 1899 Hoffenheim: Grahl – Johnson, Strobl, Vestergaard, Beck – Rudy, Polanski – Volland (89' Karaman), Firmino, Salihovic (60' Herdling) – Modeste (32' Elyounoussi)

Goals: 0-1 Modeste (22'), 1-1 Pizarro (31'), 2-1 Shaqiri (35'), 3-1 Pizarro (40'), 3-2 Salihovic (44'), 3-3 Firmino (75')

Yellow cards: Vestergaard, Firmino - Schweinsteiger

Referee: Christian Dingert

Attendance: 71,000

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