Hoffenheim 1-3 Bayern Munich
It was a satisfying night out for the dominant boys of the Bundesliga.
Niko Kovac and his Bayern Munich team were under no illusions that Hoffenheim were an easy three points. While they haven’t won in a good while, Julian Nagelsmann has the ability to make his side a dangerous one.
Unfortunately for them, Leon Goretzka had other plans. The Germany international shone with his two goals that easily makes the Bundesliga 2019 highlights for the week. His performance ensured their hosts wouldn’t be able to mount a proper comeback.
Highlights of the game
It didn’t take long for the second-placed champions to take control of the game’space. Robert Lewandowski opened hostilities in the 11th minute when he fired a first-time shot towards the box. Unfortunately for him, the ball whisked past the left post.
It was from that point on that almost every single pair of eyes in the PreZero Arena was fixated on the Hoffenheim danger zone during the game’s early stages. Both Joshua Kimmich and Thomas Muller threatened to score with the attacks, with Muller’s 19th-minute effort being the most dangerous of the bunch.
Hoffenheim were eventually able to leave the penalty area, but the Bavarians didn’t let the ball get out of their half as they continued dispossessing Die Kraichgauer before they even made the centre circle. They frustrated the hosts so much that Kevin Vogt rough-housed Lewandowski to get carded.
It didn’t take long until the unrelenting Bayern attack produced a 34th-minute goal. Kingsley Coman launched a perfect cross from the left to Lewandowski, who beat the offside trap and headed it towards the goal. Baumann managed to spill it left, but Leon Goretzka was there to collect the ball and slot it past Vogt and Oliver Baumann.
Hoffenheim tried to steal an equaliser on the reset, but Bayern’s intense pressing made sure that they would not have an easy time getting into the Bayern third. They did manage to get into the Bayern third on the dying embers of the first half, even managing to get a corner.
The half ended horribly for them when that 45th-minute corner ended into a quick counter that saw the ball swing left. Alaba launched a wicked cross to the middle of the penalty area, and Goretzka — currently thriving under Kovac — dived to tap the ball past Baumann for his second.
Julian Nagelsmann probably laid it out to his team during the half-time break, and the team improved overall in the reset. Leonardo Bittencourt, Joelinton and Kerem Demirbay tried their hands at scoring early in the second half for Hoffenheim but were denied by a strong Bayern defence.
However, Hoffenheim managed to get back in the game in the same manner of Bayern’s second goal: a Bayern corner went awry as Joelinton got the ball and launched a counter. He then passed the ball to Bittencourt, who dribbled for a bit before launching the ball towards Nico Schulz. The full-backed headed the wild pass towards the ground and launched a 20-yard screamer past Manuel Neuer.
The game continued with both sides trying to get the goal that would secure the result, but both sets of defenders have settled into their groove. Hoffenheim had a chance when they launched a goalmouth tussle in the 83rd minute, but one Hoffenheim player was caught offside.
However, Lewandowski crushed the hopes of a comeback among Hoffenheim faithful in the PreZero Arena. Substitute Muller made the beautiful passes to open up the Hoffenheim defence for the Poland international to slip into the penalty box and push the ball past Baumann.
The game ended in heartbreak for the home fans as Bayern establish their dominance at their team’s expense. They weren’t as clean as they could have been against Frankfurt. They may be looking ahead to where Dortmund are, but they are more than happy to end a tough game with a comfortable win.
Key statistics
Bayern already had a league-high 21 points on the road coming into this game, and this result only secures their spot as the best away team in the league. Their 24 away goals ensure that they are just as deadly on the road as they are at the Allianz.
They simply overpowered Hoffenheim in the first half, and that dug a ditch too deep for Nagelsmann to get them out of. Bayern had 63% possession, made 14 shot attempts compared to Hoffenheim’s three, and they forced Baumann to make four saves.
Hoffenheim may be seventh in the table, but their form shows that they are far from okay. They have not won in seven games, the last of which being a 2-1 triumph over Augsburg in November 2018. Nagelsmann must find a way to break this rut.
What’s next?
According to Bundesliga 2019 odds, Bayern are back as the biggest favourites to win the title. This fixture justifies that reason, and it will be up to Dortmund to keep the gap between them alive. Meanwhile, they will look to keep the pressure up as they welcome Stuttgart to the Allianz Arena.
Meanwhile, Hoffenheim may have to go back to the drawing board. Plenty of punters who subscribe to leading bookies such as SBOBET will keep a close eye on their development as they try to break their winless streak against Freiburg.
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