Updated on October 27, 2024, 9:32 p.m
1. FC Heidenheim – TSG 1899 Hoffenheim” width=”950″ height=”534″/>
1. FC Heidenheim and TSG Hoffenheim finished with a zero number.
© dpa / Harry Langer/dpa
The European Cup trips are having an impact: 1. FC Heidenheim and TSG Hoffenheim lacked intensity and determination on Sunday evening.
1. FC Heidenheim and TSG Hoffenheim ended the eighth Bundesliga matchday with a zero number after their away trips in the European Cup. Thanks to the goalless draw on Sunday evening, the Kraichgauers, who started poorly, maintained their three-point lead over the relegation zone. FCH is now waiting three league games for a win and has slipped to tenth place. Almost nothing happened before the break, but the game picked up noticeably after the break.
Heidenheim’s coach Frank Schmidt had tried to prevent sluggishness and changed his team to eight positions after the 1-0 win in the Conference League game at Paphos FC in Cyprus. His counterpart Pellegrino Matarazzo, however, only made two changes compared to the 0-2 loss at FC Porto in the Europa League on Thursday, bringing on Marius Bülter in attack and Kevin Akpoguma in defense.
Hoffenheim and Heidenheim weak
Both teams obviously felt their European trips in their bones and it turned out to be a tough game. FCH captain Patrick Mainka missed the best chance of the first half, but shot just over the goal after a clever save from Marvin Pieringer (12th). Otherwise little happened: in the first 45 minutes neither team managed a shot on the opposing goal.
Hoffenheim improved on these statistics shortly after the restart. First Adam Hlozek (46th) didn’t get enough pressure behind the ball when he finished, then Florian Grillitsch (48th) and a little later Bülter (52nd) missed the visitors’ lead from close range against the well-reacting Heidenheim goalkeeper Kevin Müller. TSG now took more risks, but there was a lack of precision. Andrej Kramaric (57th) also missed from a central position.
With a longer run-up, Heidenheim also made its mark. Leonardo Scienza (60th/72nd) missed two promising opportunities, his teammate Maximilian Breunig the best of the game: Hoffenheim’s national goalkeeper Oliver Baumann directed Breunig’s close-range shot onto the crossbar in the 71st minute. As a result, FCH offensive player Christian Conteh (81′) hesitated for too long, Hoffenheim’s Mergim Berisha (90’+3) was denied by Müller shortly before the final whistle. (SID/edited by cgo)
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