Hoffenheim wins: For a good feeling

Even before his game from Hoffenheim, coach Sebastian Hoeneß said of his attacker Andrej Kramaric on Sky TV: “I’m not worried, and as long as we create a large number of scoring chances, Andrej will score again.” No sooner said than done: after a David Raum corner from the second post, Kramaric scored the 1-1 draw against VfL Wolfsburg. It was the first goal of the season for the nominally strongest TSG attacker – and the start on the way to turn the game. The extra shifts in training that Hoeneß mentioned were worth it.

Kramaric (45th + 2), Christoph Baumgartner (73rd) and Pavel Kaderabek (81st) scored for the Hoffenheim team, who now have eight points on their account. Wolfsburg, however, screwed up the dress rehearsal for their first home game in the new season of the Champions League on Wednesday against FC Sevilla with the 1: 3 (1: 1). The opening goal by Ridle Baku (25th) didn’t change that. “The victory was extremely important for us. We were in a difficult phase,” said the Austrian Baumgartner at Sky: “Because of the will and the moral, the victory was deserved.”

Only towards the end of the first half does Kramaric create danger

Hoeneß ‘opposite Mark van Bommel was already sitting thoughtfully on the sidelines in stoppage time. After the final whistle, the frustrated VfL coach trudged briefly onto the field – and then quickly disappeared into the dressing room. The moderate mood was understandable, after all, with the first defeat of the season, VfL missed out on points with the front runner FC Bayern Munich. It was the first setback for Wolfsburg after the start with four wins and one draw.

The 8,523 spectators in the Rhein-Neckar-Arena saw a game without any major highlights until the middle of the first half, before national player Baku scored a worth seeing shot with a long-range shot. However, the TSG defenders had left too much space for the winger, who was served by Maximilian Philipp.

It was only towards the end of the first half that Kramaric slowly created danger on the other side of the field. While the TSG striker only hit the side netting in the 39th minute, he made it better with his head in stoppage time, a flattering equalizer. “We knew that we needed a certain ability to suffer,” said Hoeneß. “But I saw a team that didn’t give up after the 0-1 win.” And so his more efficient players turned the game around completely. “We fought for victory, it is good for you.”