FIRST TEAM
12/12/2014

Frantic home win over Eintracht!

TSG continue to be a force a home. The defeat to KÓ§ln proved to be no more than just a blip. Hoffenheim were 3-2 winners in what was a frantic game against Eintracht Frankfurt. Volland, Szalai and Firmino all got on the scoresheet for Markus Gisdol's side. Aigner and Seferovic replied for the guests.

Tactics and Personnel:


Major rotation isn't a phrase in TSG head coach Markus Gisdol's vocabulary – the manager made just two changes to the game last Friday in Dortmund – Anthony Modeste deputised in centre-attack for Sven Schipplock while Tarik Elyounoussi came back in the side in place of Sebastian Rudy. Everything was like usual alongside these two: Roberto Firmino and Kevin Volland. Eugen Polanski and Pirmin Schwegler were deployed as the two anchormen behind the attacking three. The back four was also a familiar sight. From right to left – Andreas Beck, Niklas Süle, Ermin Bicakcic and Jin-Su Kim. In goal? Oliver Baumann, of course.

The formation remained unchanged with Gisdol deploying his side in a tried and tested 4-2-3-1 formation. TSG started on the front foot in this formation. The Frankfurt centre-backs had to think on their feet in their own box early on. Modeste and Firmino put them under pressure from the off.

The key moments:

8th Minute:Ugly scenes. Niklas Süle was injured in an aerial duel and has to be brought off the pitch on a stretcher. The extent of the injury is obviously not know just yet. It was the left knee where impact was made. There's only one thing to say: Get well soon, Niklas!


10th Minute:That could have been nice – the story of the game. Pirmin Schwegler releases it from 19 metres out with his right foot. It flies and dips and goes just 50cm over the crossbar, very easy on the eye.


19th minute: Polanski releases Beck down the right flank. The captain crosses first time and Modeste shakes off his opponent in the middle with a body feint. His header to Hildebrand's left just lacks that bit of power.

22nd minute:Phew! Seferovic falls to ground in the TSG box. We've seen them given but there's no sound of Dr. Jochen Drees‘ whistle.

36th minute:Just inches away from taking the lead! Firmino applies the gas and dispatches Elyounoussi. The Norwegian goes past his opponent and pulls the trigger from 14 metres out. It goes narrowly wide of the far post. Keep on pushing, lads!

43rd minute:GOAAAL for TSG!! Firmino, Volland, full sprint, inch-perfect pass. It's just too quick for the Eagles. Hildebrand dives but is unable to keep it out. 1-0 to Hoffenheim!

55th minute:
The first chance for Eintracht – since... when exactly? The attacking duo of Seferovic and Meier make their presence known. The Swiss releases his teammate in the middle. The shot from 16 metres out goes a fair way over though.

58th minute: Equaliser for the visitors. Oczipka crosses the ball with venom from the left. Aigner latches on to it and releases a shot. No chance for Oliver Baumann and somehow it's 1-1.

60th minute:The Eagles are now on top. A rare attempt from Chandler from 25 metres out sails over the crossbar. Did Baumann get a touch to it? Hard to tell from up in the stands.

65th minute:It has to go in. Szalai, who was subbed on two minutes ago, creates a chance for Kevin Volland with his back to goal and pulls the trigger by surprise. Hildebrand stops with an unbelievable reflex save!

66th minute:GOAAAAL! Back in the lead! Beck puts the ball into the box and Schwegler is there at the back post with the volley and Szalai taps in from close range, with Hildebrand nowhere near the ball. 2-1! Boooooom!

76th minute: Today is just not Elyounoussi's day. He releases a powerful shot with his left from the left. Towards the far post again. It clatters the upright this time.

77th minute:Would you believe it? Seferovic gets on the scoresheet to make it 2-2. You'd have to say it was against the run of play. But what does that mean? The scoreboard read 2-2. Dig deep, boys!

83rd minute: Baumann saves the day! He has to dive far to stop a precise right-footed effort from Meier and clears it for a corner.

85th minute: Terrific pass from Polanski on the left flank, great cross from Kim to the back post. Oczipka is there as the last resort to clear from Volland.

87th minute: YESSSSS, that's the ticket! Corner. Scramble. Chaos. Shot from Szalai. Save from Hildebrand. Szalai hacks at it. Firmino: It's in! The ball makes it over the line from 50cm out! That's 3-2! See it out, lads!

93rd minute: Bauman, Oliver Baumann again! Unbelievable save in added time! Our keeper secures the victory. How good was that?!

The scene of the game I:

That's why Markus Gisdol wants him in his side. How Pirmin Schwegler not only won the ball in his own area before Kevin Volland's opener, the pass from a sliding tackle that released Firmino and sent him on his travels, that was Schwegler at his finest. Strong in the tackle, careful and technically superb – all in one moment!

The scene of the game II:

Adam Szalai's goal to make it 2-1 was TSG's first goal off the bench in the Bundesliga this term. Anthony Modeste struck moments after his introduction in the DFB Cup and Szalai needed just two minutes to get on the scoresheet today.

Match facts and statistics »

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