30th matchday
3:4 at Hoffenheim: Gladbach has to continue to tremble
7 goals: TSG Hoffenheim beats Borussia Mönchengladbach 4:3. photo
© Uwe Anspach/dpa
Gladbach cannot escape the relegation battle. Borussia relied on counter-attack football for a long time in Sinsheim and never gave up, but in the end they came away empty-handed.
Despite three goals from Robin Hack at his old place of work, Borussia Mönchengladbach continues to tremble. Coach Gerardo Seoane’s team lost 3:4 (1:1) to TSG 1899 Hoffenheim after a nerve-wracking final phase in the Bundesliga. After this setback, the club is only five points ahead of the relegation place with FSV Mainz 05, who only play in Freiburg on Sunday and can continue to work their way forward.
Meanwhile, the Kraichgauers kept their chance of participating in the European Cup. In front of 26,078 spectators In Sinsheim, the Dutchman Wout Weghorst (36th minute) gave TSG the lead with his seventh goal of the season. The ex-Hoffenheimer Hack equalized just three minutes later (39th). Grischa Prömel made it 2-1 with a shot into the corner (58th), before Ozan Kabak followed suit (66th). With his seventh goal of the year, Hack reduced the score to 2-3 (78′), before the Borussia striker equalized again (90′) and substitute Anton Stach celebrated the winning goal in stoppage time (90’+1).
Kramaric for TSG for the 250th time
The Gladbachers, who were already weakened in terms of personnel, also had to replace regular goalkeeper Jonas Omlin (thigh problem) with Moritz Nicolas. After the 4-1 defeat in Mainz, TSG coach Pellegrino Matarazzo brought in Umut Tohumcu and Robert Skov, two new players and momentum in the midfield. After a good quarter of an hour, Borussia goalkeeper Nicolas was able to distinguish himself for the first time with a shot from Pavel Kaderabek, otherwise the home team could hardly get through against well-positioned Gladbachers.
Playmaker Andrej Kramaric also initially found few gaps in his anniversary game: the 32-year-old Croatian played his 250th Bundesliga encounter for the Kraichgauer team. Only Baumann (325) and Sebastian Rudy (295) have more to show.
The Gladbachers largely relied on counterattacks and were almost punished: European Championship candidate and TSG top scorer Maximilian Beier headed against the post after 32 minutes. After Rocco Reitz lost the ball to Florian Grillitsch, Kramaric reacted quickly and fed Weghorst, who easily took the lead.
Seven goals and a turbulent final phase
Hoffenheim’s celebration only lasted a short time. On the other hand, Grillitsch and Grischa Prömel defended poorly – and Hack used Alassane Plea’s through ball to make it 1-1. This means that Hoffenheim have been waiting for a game without conceding a goal for 25 games.
With a great deed, goalkeeper Nicolas saved the draw at the break against a precise Kramaric shot. Even after the change, the 26-year-old shone against the onrushing opponent with a double chance from Weghorst and Kramaric.
The Borussia keeper was powerless to counter Prömel’s shot from 20 meters. The scene was hardly less worth seeing when defender Kabak pulled away in front of the penalty area and Nicolas flew into space again. Mönchengladbach made it 2-3 with a header from Hack before each team scored again in the turbulent final minutes.