Bundesliga: Leipzig beats Hoffenheim 5-0 and is now in a Champions League place

Brajan Gruda demonstrated his ability to score goals twice, while Christoph Baumgartner did it with power and elegance. And Benjamin Henrichs provided a moment of emotion. RB Leipzig humiliated their direct rivals TSG 1899 Hoffenheim with a furious performance and collected three big points in the fight for a premier class ticket with their 5-0 (4-0) victory.
Against the desolate Kraichgauer with their pitiful national goalkeeper Oliver Baumann, Gruda (17th/44th minute) and Baumgartner (21st/30th) each scored twice in the first half. The video referee denied a possible Leipzig record break lead, and a goal from Yan Diomande was disallowed in stoppage time because of an offside position.

Substitute Henrichs scored the fifth goal in the final phase (78th). His first goal after a long injury break was applauded collectively. Thanks to the clear victory, the Saxons moved level with Hoffenheim on points in the Bundesliga and even passed VfB Stuttgart into third place thanks to the better goal difference. The Champions League is again a more realistic scenario of happiness for coach Ole Werner’s team a few days after the painful 0-1 loss in Stuttgart.

Hoffenheim suffered their heaviest defeat of the season and fell to fifth place; international format was not evident. Baumann couldn’t believe the debacle, the DFB goalkeeper gestured, swore and cheered – but his teammates were completely out of it.

Coach Christian Ilzer will have to make a lot of adjustments during the upcoming international break. TSG was only able to win one of the last five league games – against bottom team 1. FC Heidenheim.
In front of 40,980 spectators in the Red Bull Arena, there were initially few signs of a Leipzig offensive and scoring frenzy. Hoffenheim started bravely and technically quickly. But Leipzig reacted coldly. Gruda was in the right position when Baumann let a Romulo shot ricochet forward.

A short time later, Baumgartner headed the ball powerfully into the net after a typically butter-soft cross from David Raum. Following Gruda’s submission, the Austrian followed up artistically with a volley. With twelve goals, he is now Leipzig’s top scorer this season.
Gruda’s second strike was once again a prime example of clever striker positioning, the junior international successfully lurking at the far post for a Diomande cross.

Ilzer brought in top striker Andrej Kramaric for the second half, who surprisingly wasn’t in the TSG starting line-up for the first time this year. But the Croatian couldn’t initiate a miracle turnaround. Grischa Prömel at least tested RB goalkeeper Maarten Vandevoordt (53′) with a long-range shot.
The Leipzig team calmly watched Hoffenheim’s possession football and waited for their chances to switch. Gruda (54th) could have scored a hat-trick with a little more concentration. Henrichs provided a special moment of happiness.