Bundesliga debutants Leipzig earn draw at Hoffenheim
Marcel Sabitzer's 90th-minute goal ensured RB Leipzig earned a 2-2 draw at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim in their first-ever match in the Bundesliga.
TSG 1899 Hoffenheim 2-2 RB Leipzig
Goals: 1-0 Rupp (55'), 1-1 Kaiser (58'), 2-1 Uth (83'), 2-2 Sabitzer (90')
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Fans and pundits alike had been eagerly awaiting this match as Leipzig's first taste of the Bundesliga, and while a largely uneventful first half may have simmered gently, both teams cranked up the heat after the restart.
Hoffenheim's Lukas Rupp marked his first appearance for his new club with a well-taken volley to open the scoring on 55 minutes, but Leipzig fought back admirably and were level almost instantly. Dominik Kaiser had gone close on a number of occasions before the interval, and he finally beat Oliver Baumann with a strike that was too hot for the goalkeeper to handle.
Baumann might have been disappointed not to keep Kaiser's shot out, but he made amends later on with a fantastic block to deny Sabitzer, before Hoffenheim advanced with a three-on-three, only for Sandro Wagner's centre to elude his onrushing team-mates. The game continued to swing this way and that, and the hosts went in front again seven minutes from time, with Mark Uth finishing well following a brilliant run and weighted pass from the captain Sebastian Rudy.
Still the drama was not over, though, as Ralph Hasenhüttl's Leipzig showed tremendous resolve to force in another equaliser, the industrious Sabitzer tapping in a low cross almost bang on 90 minutes and ensuring the spoils were shared in an enthralling game.
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Talking point
They may be the newest club to play in Germany's top flight but this was an exciting debut for RB in the division, and their free-flowing style and willingness to commit men forward is sure to make it a memorable season for the fans.
Match stats
- All of Rupp's ten Bundesliga goals have come with his right foot.Kaiser had more shots on goal (six) than any other player.Uth has scored eight goals in 14 league games since Julian Nagelsmann became Hoffenheim coach.
Line-ups
Hoffenheim: Baumann - Kaderabek, Schär, Süle, Ochs - Rudy (c), Vogt (Schwegler), Rupp (Amiri 65') - Uth, Kramaric (Terrazzino 79') - Wagner
Coach: Julian Nagelsmann
Leipzig: Gulacsi - Schmitz, Orban, Compper (Forsberg 63'), Halstenberg - Demme, Ilsanker - Kaiser (c), Sabitzer - Poulsen (Selke 82'), Werner (Bruno 85')
Coach: Ralph Hasenhüttl