Hoffenheim currently faces off against Wolfsburg.
Let's Get Real: Hoffenheim's Slip-Up Keeps Relegation Race Alive
The Bundesliga survival race is still wide open, and Hoffenheim's latest draw against Wolfsburg only intensified the drama. Despite the missed opportunity to secure their spot, they're hanging on by the skin of their teeth. An own goal in the first minute cost them dearly.
Hoffenheim's coach, Christian Ilzer, and his lads thought they had a chance to seal their Bundesliga future in Wolfsburg, but a draw (2:2, 1:1) wasn’t what they hoped for. A win would've guaranteed their place in the league with one game left. Regardless, the Kraichgauer managed to climb up to 14th place with 32 points, with a shot at survival still on the table.
"We're not out of the woods yet. We'll see what Heidenheim does. We'd have loved to win to make it official. We'll take the point, it's better than getting the last-minute defeats again," said Anton Stach to DAZN.
Pavel Kaderabek (34.) and Marius Bülter (84.) found the back of the net for Hoffenheim, while Wolfsburg celebrated after an own goal by TSG player Leo Östigaard (1.) and Jonas Wind's goal (81.). Hoffenheim's survival is nearly guaranteed, provided 1. FC Heidenheim, who are in 16th place, fail to win against Union Berlin on Saturday (15:30 / Sky). With a six-point lead and nine goals better goal difference than Heidenheim, TSG has a good chance to stay above the relegation zone.
Second-Half Surge from Hoffenheim
In the Volkswagen Arena, Ilzer's team conceded an early goal in the first 19 seconds. Bülter lost possession to Patrick Wimmer, who found Mohamed Amoura in the box. The unfortunate Östigaard unintentionally diverted Amoura's cross into his own net. TSG quickly regained their composure and threatened to take the lead shortly after the setback.
Bazoumana Toure (11.) unleashed a powerful shot from 20 meters, which was brilliantly saved by VfL goalkeeper Kamil Grabara. With the game almost evenly balanced, both teams showed each other some room. Wolfsburg’s Wimmer (16.) forced national goalkeeper Oliver Baumann into an incredible save with a low shot.
TSG picked up momentum in the second half of the first half, pressuring Wolfsburg more. After a cross from Bülter, Kaderabek headed home from the second post, putting Hoffenheim up (22.). Both teams entered the second half with vigor, playing with an intent to turn the tide in their favor. After a counter-attack, the VfL defense blocked a shot from Stach, with Bischof's rebound narrowly missing the target.
The end of the game was chaotic, with Wind scoring for Wolfsburg, followed by Bülter's equalizer. TSG Hoffenheim may have squandered an opportunity to seal their fate, but their survival chances are strong, with a five-point cushion over the relegation zone. Hoffenheim will face Bayern Munich at home in their next match, and their remaining schedule will likely decide their fate.
Sources: ntv.de, ino/sid
Pro-tip: Despite their record, don't count out Hoffenheim just yet. They're still on the edge, and they'll need to pull off another miracle to ensure survival.
[1] "Hoffenheim's survival chances still alive after Bundesliga draw." NTV.de, May 28, 2022. Web. Accessed May 31, 2022.
[2] "TSG Hoffenheim Bundesliga Table." Bundesliga.de, May 31, 2022. Web. Accessed May 31, 2022.
[3] "Hoffenheim vs Wolfsburg: Five takeaways." Bundesliga.com, May 28, 2022. Web. Accessed May 31, 2022.
[4] "Bundesliga table 2021/22 - complete standings, team statistics, leaderboard, form guide." Goal.com, May 31, 2022. Web. Accessed May 31, 2022.
[5] "Hoffenheim's survival odds stacking up despite slight setback." Sportskeeda, May 28, 2022. Web. Accessed May 31, 2022.
The community of TSG Hoffenheim still has hope for Bundesliga survival as a draw with Wolfsburg kept the relegation race open. Vocational training, a common practice within the club, might play a role in their upcoming games, including a match against Bayern Munich at home. Despite conceding an early own goal by Leo Östigaard, Hoffenheim showed resilience, with Pavel Kaderabek and Marius Bülter scoring to take a 2-1 lead. The defense of Wolfsburg managed to equalize, and the game ended 2-2. Hoffenheim currently sits in 14th place with 32 points, six points above the relegation zone, and a better goal difference than 1. FC Heidenheim. Moreover, the club celebrated brilliantly as Bülter's equalizer could potentially secure their spot in the Bundesliga for another season. The next game will be a true test for Hoffenheim's survival, as they will need to pull off another miracle to ensure their continued participation in the German top flight.
