Blow for Hoffenheim: Own goal edges them closer to Bundesliga survival, but not quite there yet
Hoffenheim currently resides in Wolfsburg.
The Bundesliga relegation battle is far from over. Hoffenheim missed their chance to seal their Bundesliga fate in Wolfsburg, settling for a draw instead. And that costly own goal? Yep, it was their very own Leo Ostigard who scored the own goal in the first minute itself.
Bad start for Christian Ilzer's team, but they're still hanging in there. A win would've guaranteed their position in the league, but after drawing 2:2, Hoffenheim is now on the brink of survival. With 32 points under their belt, they moved up to 14th place and could still celebrate with a whiff of survival come tomorrow.
"We'll take the point," Hoffenheim's Anton Stach said on DAZN after the game. "It's better than getting the defeat in injury time again." While mathematically, their fate isn't sealed, they'll be keeping a close eye on Heidenheim's game against Union Berlin tomorrow. Win or lose, Hoffenheim's survival is looking good, thanks to a six-point lead and a nine-goal advantage in goal difference over Heidenheim.
TSG takes the lead in the second half
After the early shock of going behind, TSG quickly proved they weren't done yet. Bazoumana Touré had a shot that deflected off Konstantinos Koulierakis and was saved by VfL goalkeeper Kamil Grabara. The game became quite balanced with both teams giving each other space. Wolfsburg's Patrick Wimmer nearly gave them the lead with a low shot, but Oliver Baumann, the German national goalkeeper, made a great save.
In the second half of the first half, TSG stepped up the pressure. Grabara first saved a free kick from Tom Bischof, before Pavel Kaderabek scored. A cross from Marius Bülter found the Czech at the second post, who hammered the ball into the net. Both teams started the second half with a lot of momentum, with chances flowing for both sides.
In the final stages, it got quite turbulent. Jonas Wind scored first, then Bülter equalized for the visitors. Hoffenheim had a few more chances to take the lead, but Wolfsburg defense managed to block their attempts, underlining their determination to secure survival.
In essence, Hoffenheim's draw with Wolfsburg has significantly improved their chances of Bundesliga survival. With a six-point lead over Heidenheim, they will avoid the relegation/promotion playoff, provided Heidenheim fails to win their match on Saturday. The survival party is not officially over, but Hoffenheim fans can rejoice - relegation looks highly unlikely, barring poor results in the final games and favorable outcomes for their rivals.
In spite of the draw, Hoffenheim's six-point advantage over Heidenheim has them poised to avoid the relegation/promotion playoff. This improvement in their chances was evident in their game against Wolfsburg, where they showcased resilience, with Pavel Kaderabek scoring a vital goal before half-time. The Kraichgauer team will need to continue this vigor in their remaining matches, as the community policy will dictate their survival in the Bundesliga. Vocational training in this context might not be applicable, but the team, much like a trainee, needs to keep learning, adapting, and performing in order to secure their spot in the league. Saving that crucial point in Wolfsburg was an essential milestone in this journey, but the ultimate target - a metered distance on the table - remains unattained, with Hoffenheim aiming to cover the last few points in sports like a determined football team.
