Head coach Oliver Glasner took the ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ approach as he named the same starting line-up for the fourth game running. Christopher Lenz was included among the substitutes after almost three months out injured.
Good start not maintained
In heavy rain at the PreZero-Arena, the Eagles made the better start and created the first real opportunity on seven minutes, with Rafael Borré heading wide from Filip Kostic’s free-kick. It was from another Kostic set piece that Glasner’s men took the lead. This time the Serbian played a short corner to Jesper Lindström, whose whipped cross was headed in by Borré for his third Bundesliga goal (15’). The same combination almost produced a second goal six minutes later, but Kristijan Jakic couldn’t direct Lindström’s delivery on target at the back post.
Eintracht were left ruing that missed chance as the hosts equalised out of the blue. Munas Dabbur laid the ball off for Dennis Geiger on the edge of the area, and the midfielder curled in a fine strike past Kevin Trapp (24’). That goal proved a turning point as Hoffenheim took control of the game, and they were in front just six minutes later. Ihlas Bebou’s effort from the right was pushed away by Trapp, but Georginio Rutter kept his composure to slot in the rebound. Eintracht would’ve been even further behind at the break were it not for an excellent goalline clearance by Evan Ndicka (33’).
No late drama this time
The Eagles made a positive and energetic start to the second half but couldn’t quite find the final pass or finish to equalise. Timothy Chandler was denied by goalkeeper Oliver Baumann from Daichi Kamada’s chipped ball, although the flag had gone up for a tight offside decision (56’). Instead it was the home side who grabbed the vital fourth goal. Diadie Samassekou’s shot was deflected just away from Trapp, who couldn’t get enough of a hand to it (59’), and although it was initially disallowed for an offside in the build-up, VAR overturned the decision and the goal stood.
Eintracht were not out of it yet, though, and reduced the deficit in the 72nd minute, when Kostic’s left-wing cross was beautifully chested down and volleyed in by substitute Goncalo Paciencia. The men in black pushed on in search of an equaliser, with Paciencia (78’) and Jens Petter Hauge (86’) both having efforts blocked and Borré firing over (87’), but there was to be no repeat of the team’s recent last-minute heroics.
Summary: Fine margins
It was far from a bad performance by Eintracht, who were undone by an effective Hoffenheim side who made the most of the few chances they had in what was an entertaining and even contest. Glasner and his players can certainly take plenty of positives ahead of Thursday’s Europa League showdown with Fenerbahce.
SGE line-up
Trapp – Tuta, Hasebe, Ndicka – Chandler (Ache 83’), Sow, Jakic (Rode 69’), Kostic – Kamada (Hauge 69’), Lindström (Paciencia 58’) – Borré
Goals
0-1 Borré (15’)
1-1 Geiger (24’)
2-1 Rutter (30’)
3-1 Samassekou (59’)
3-2 Paciencia (72’)
