Hoffenheim beat Gladbach in eight-goal thriller
Bundesliga 'Goalmania' may officially be over but nobody seemed to tell Hoffenheim as they took another big step towards securing a top four finish thanks to a 5-3 home victory over Borussia Mönchengladbach in a gripping game on Saturday.
Hoffenheim 5-3 Borussia Mönchengladbach
Goals: 1-0 Szalai (9'), 2-0 Szalai (24'), 2-1 Vestergaard (31'), 2-2 Stindl (35), 3-2 Demirbay (58'), 4-2 Uth (75'), 4-3 Dahoud (78'), 5-3 Demirbay (89')
Gladbach have been disappointing away from home this season and the travelling supporters will have feared the worst after an Adam Szalai brace put Hoffenheim 2-0 up after just 24 minutes. The hosts looked to be in control, but Jannik Vestergaard gave Gladbach hope with an easy tap-in following a free-kick, before Lars Stindl was given a simple finish into an empty net after Oliver Baumann's attempted clearance was charged down.
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There were more twists to come after the break. Gladbach were the better side early in the second half but Hoffenheim edged ahead once again when Kerem Demirbay's free-kick deceived everyone in the box and bounced in at the back post. Substitute Mark Uth restored the home side's two-goal cushion with a stunning strike from distance, but Mahmoud Dahoud ensured there would be a nervy finale when he cut the deficit once more late on. However, Demirbay's second of the game – a header at the back post – sealed the points for Julian Nagelsmann's side.
Man of the Match
Demirbay was excellent for the hosts, covering more ground than any of his team-mates and proving a constant menace with his pace and dribbling. He crowned a superb display with a goal – which may have been somewhat fortunate, but was certainly deserved.
Talking Point
Hoffenheim are one of just three sides - along with Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund - to remain unbeaten at home in the Bundesliga this season. That has been one of the key factors in their charge towards European qualification for the 2017/18 campaign.
Match Stats
- All six of Szalai's goals in the second half of the campaign have come at home.Vestergaard has scored three times in a single season for the first time ever.Traore was in the Gladbach starting line-up for the first time since Matchday 11 following injury.
Line-ups:
Hoffenheim: Baumann - Süle, Vogt, Hübner (Bicakcic 85')- Toljan, Rudy (c), Demirbay, Zuber – Wagner (Uth 63'), Szalai (Amiri 74'), Kramaric
Coach: Julian Nagelsmann
Gladbach: Sommer - Elvedi, Christensen, Vestergaard, Wendt - Hofmann, Dahoud, Strobl (Benes 85'), Traore (Herrmann 74')– Stindl (c), Hahn (Drmic 74')
Coach: Dieter Hecking
Watch: Man of the Match Demirbay on Hoffenheim's "amazing" 5-3 win: