4th matchday
“There is little more beautiful”: Hoffenheim at the top
Hoffenheim’s Dennis Geiger (right) scores the goal to lead the hosts. photo
© Tom Weller/dpa
For Grischa Prömel there is “nothing more beautiful in the world”, coach Breitenreiter is satisfied. Before the eyes of Franz Beckenbauer, Hoffenheim settled at the top. The winning goal scorer first takes a pill – and then decides the Bundesliga game.
Franz Beckenbauer was able to watch TSG 1899 Hoffenheim’s spontaneous blue party from the VIP box. With the German football icon as a guest in the stadium, the Kraichgauer coach André Breitenreiter continued their successful course with nine points and three wins in a row.
“It was trend-setting for me, we established ourselves at the top,” said Breitenreiter after the 1-0 (1-0) win over FC Augsburg, who are in trouble again after their third defeat of the season.
Hero of the day: Dennis Geiger
The result is “okay. Still, I think we played a good game. What we lacked was accuracy – and also calmness,” said Augsburg coach Enrico Maassen, who came to FCA before the season. Even Maassen will not have peace forever. Especially not if the offensive around the disappointing starting eleven debutant Ricardo Pepi does not increase significantly. On Saturday, Breitenreiter saw “not a single goal chance” for the guests.
The hero of the day was Dennis Geiger, whose direct acceptance to make it 1-0 was worth seeing. “At first I thought: Skovi, why are you putting him on my left hand? Then I hit him perfectly. There’s always a bit of luck involved. Of course I’m happy about that,” said the violinist, who is often plagued by injuries. The 24-year-old had previously had his foot treated before he said he took a pill and was able to continue playing – worth its weight in gold for TSG that day.
All of this was observed by grandstand guest Beckenbauer, whose visit came as a surprise because the “Kaiser” is hardly ever present in public. He had canceled a visit to the funeral service of his friend and HSV icon Uwe Seeler almost three weeks ago for health reasons. Beckenbauer is considered a friend and confidant of Hoffenheim’s patron Dietmar Hopp. But this time he didn’t get a real football spectacle.
“We are all overjoyed”
But for TSG it was enough to keep in touch with the top. “Third win in a row, we’re all overjoyed. That was a work win. It gives you a good feeling and a broad chest when you’re rewarded,” said new signing Grischa Prömel. If you can celebrate with the fans, “there is little more beautiful in the world”. Match winner Geiger was “someone who can bite his teeth,” praised Prömel. The scorer was the only one who didn’t get a tip on how to overcome Prömel’s former colleague Rafal Gikiewicz.
Meanwhile, the injured Augsburgers have to continue to compensate for numerous failures at the same time. Niklas Dorsch is out for a long time, as is central defender Felix Uduokhai. For Arne Maier, who “criticized the stupid goal”, it is important that at least goalkeeper Gikiewicz stays. “I haven’t heard anything more about a new goalkeeper commitment, that’s over after the Leverkusen game. I’m completely satisfied with Rafa, he’s a great support,” said Maier. Gikiewicz thwarted some scenes, especially in the final phase, and thus ensured that the defeat was not higher.