The crisis-plagued TSG Hoffenheim stopped its way down, but missed the positive experience hoped for by coach Pellegrino Matarazzo at the last minute. After four recent defeats in the league, the Kraichgauer team managed a 1-1 (1-0) draw in the Baden-Württemberg derby with runner-up VfB Stuttgart – in a turbulent final phase they gave away the much-needed victory with a hand penalty.
Ermedin Demirovic only converted a follow-up shot in the ninth minute of stoppage time. Even for Champions League participants Stuttgart, the draw in the fight for the top places was not enough after a poor performance. Valentin Gendrey gave TSG the lead in the 44th minute. This was preceded by a serious mistake by national player Maximilian Mittelstädt.
For DFB candidate Alexander Nübel the goal was untenable. Nübel is fighting with Hoffenheim keeper Oliver Baumann for a place in the national team for the injured Marc-Andre ter Stegen. The 1-1 draw may still give former VfB coach Matarazzo some breathing space during the international break after TSG had already won against Dynamo Kiev in the Europa League on Thursday. Baumann had already supported his coach after the 2-1 win.
“If it wasn’t right, it wouldn’t have worked,” the captain said. It also worked for VfB. Adam Hlosek had the lead after just four minutes, but Mittelstädt cleared the ball off the line. An open game developed in which Gendrey, on the other hand, fended off a header from Atakan Karazor in desperate need (8th).
After just a quarter of an hour, Matarazzo had to replace the injured Tim Drexler. The TSG initially continued to cause the Swabians problems. VfB only slowly took control of the game and had two good shot chances through Mittelstädt. Baumann made a brilliant save. It was all the more surprising that Hoffenheim made it 1-0 shortly before half-time, although Mittelstädt essentially handed the ball to Gendrey.
Stuttgart coach Sebastian Hoeneß reacted and brought on Josha Vagnoman and Chris Führich. Things rarely got better. Hoffenheim played largely stable, VfB increased the pressure towards the end, but hardly found any gaps. TSG remained dangerous on the counterattack.