A few minutes later there was another chance for the guests, who repeatedly managed to get the ball out of their own half. A free-kick cross from Hiroki Ito got the ball in front of Omar Marmoush’s feet. Hoffenheim’s Oliver Baumann was able to parry the not entirely precise shot.
Mangala has to go – TSG goal doesn’t count
The next injury shock followed for the guests: Orel Mangala had to leave the field in the 37th minute. Philipp Förster came in for him. In the following, the hosts were able to establish themselves a little in the Stuttgart half and won through Baumgartner (39th) and Kramaric (41.) more chances.
In the 43rd minute the ball wriggled in the net. But the goal from Hoffenheim’s Benjamin Hübner was preceded by an offside position by Georginio Rutter. Referee Matthias Jöllenbeck rightly did not give the goal. It was 0-0 at the break.
Geiger has to go – Stuttgart scores
After the break, Hoffenheim returned to the pitch unchanged. For the guests, Sasa Kalajdzic came on for Chris Führich. A few minutes later, TSG also had to change for the first time: Dennis Geiger, who had already received a hit to the head at the beginning of the game, went down again after a contact in his own penalty area and had to be carried away on a stretcher. Sebastian Rudy came in for him.
Sasa Kalajdzic extended the subsequent corner from Omar Marmous. At the second post, Wataru Endo was able to escape Hoffenheim’s David Raum and get the ball over the line to make it 1-0 (58′). Hoffenheim then needed a little less than ten minutes to recover from the shock before Ihlas Bebou had the first big chance to equalize. But his header was too unplaced (67th).