Season so far: TSG 1899 Hoffenheim
At the halfway point of the 2016/17 Bundesliga season, it is time for bundesliga.com to dissect the campaigns of each club so far.
Story so far
Next up we have TSG 1899 Hoffenheim...
Fifth position is impressive in itself, but it is the zero beside Hoffenheim’s defeat tally that really stands out . Having narrowly avoided relegation last season, Hoffenheim are now the only remaining unbeaten team in the league this term, and one of only two sides undefeated in Europe’s top five leagues – the other being Real Madrid CF. Julian Nagelsmann's side have taken points off FC Bayern München, Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig and were convincing 3-0 winners away at Bayer 04 Leverkusen. Surrendering leads in six of their ten draws is something to be rectified in the New Year, but it has been a highly satisfactory campaign for the Sinsheimers thus far.
Watch: Highlights of Hoffenheim's 1-1 draw at champions Bayern:
Star player:Sandro Wagner
After scoring 14 goals to almost single-handedly keep SV Darmstadt 98 in the Bundesliga last term, Wagner has progressed to another level for Hoffenheim. This season he has nine in 16 matches and is an absolute mainstay of the side, playing 90 minutes in 13 of those games. In 2016, he has also netted 29 goals, making him the most prolific German striker in the division. After making his top-flight debut for Bayern in 2007 and scoring seven goals in his first 85 Bundesliga appearances, Wagner now has 23 in his last 47, a truly remarkable improvement.
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Top facts
- Hoffenheim have drawn ten games, three more than the league's next ‘draw specialists’ 1. FC Köln.Sandro Wagner has scored nine goals this season and 19 in 2016, making him the most prolific German in the calendar year.Nagelsmann was 28 when he was became coach, making him the youngest permanent head coach in the Bundesliga’s history.