Andrej Kramaric hits all four as Hoffenheim humble Borussia Dortmund to secure sixth spot
Andrej Kramaric became the only player to score four goals in a single Bundesliga game in the 2019/20 season to secure sixth place and a spot in the UEFA Europa League group stage as Hoffenheim humbled Borussia Dortmund on the final day.
Borussia Dortmund 0-4 Hoffenheim
Goals: 0-1 Kramaric (8'), 0-2 Kramaric (30'), 0-3 Kramaric (48'), 0-4 Kramaric (50')
With Dortmund already safe in second place and Hoffenheim fighting for a UEFA Europa League group stage place ahead of a qualification spot, it was the away side who had the bit between their teeth from the get-go. Kramaric opened the scoring with a stunner after only eight minutes, collecting Pavel Kaderabek's pass to the edge of the Dortmund box before curling a shot past Roman Bürki. Dortmund dominated the ball in the first half, but with Achraf Hakimi and Jadon Sancho both on the bench, Lucien Favre's side lacked some pace and cutting-edge in attack. On the half-hour mark, the away side duly doubled their lead with Dortmund's defence struggling. Robert Skov took a shot at goal which was poked across the line from close range by Kramaric, scoring his third goal against BVB in this season alone to see his side go into the break ahead of their hosts.
Sancho and Hakimi came on at the break for the home side, but the second half began in nightmarish fashion for Dortmund as the goals continued to tumble, and all from one right foot. Kramaric this time was found in space on the break by Ihlas Bebou, and cooly slotted the ball beyond Bürki. Just two minutes later and Mats Hummels' challenge on Munas Dabbur handed Hoffenheim a penalty, which Kramaric thumped through Bürki despite the Dortmund No.1 diving the correct way. The home side continued to control most of the possession but found no way through Hoffenheim's stalwart defence, with the prospect of more goals a constant threat on the counter-attack. The score stayed the same, though, with Kramaric's goals - and Wolfsburg's defeat to champions Bayern Munich - securing Hoffenheim a UEFA Europa League group stage berth for next season.
Match stats
- Kramaric became the first and only Bundesliga player to score four goals in a single game this season, while also becoming the first Hoffenheim player to hit so many in one top-flight outing.
- 45 of Kramaric's 62 Bundesliga goals have come in the second half of a season.
- The Croatia international scored five goals against Dortmund in two appearances in this campaign alone.
- It's the third time Dortmund and Hoffenheim have met on the final day of a Bundesliga season. Hoffenheim ran out 3-1 winners in 2017/18 to secure automatic Champions League qualification at BVB's expense, and in 2012/13 to climb out of the automatic relegation zone and into the play-off spot.
- Hakimi came on from the bench to make his final appearance for Dortmund with his two-year loan from Real Madrid coming to an end.
Watch: Kramaric: "I'm very proud of this"
Line-ups
Dortmund: Bürki - Piszczek (c) (Schulz 70'), Hummels, Balerdi (Raschl 65') - Morey, Witsel, Brandt, Guerreiro (Sancho 46') – Reyna (Zagadou 65'), Haaland, Hazard (Hakimi 46')
Unused subs: Hitz, Rente, Pherai, Führich,
Out: Akanji (calf), Can (suspended), Dahoud (knee), Delaney (muscular), Götze (personal reasons), Reus (groin), Schmelzer (knee)
Coach: Lucien Favre
Hoffenheim: Baumann - Posch, Grillitsch, Hübner (c) (Bicakcic 83') - Kaderabek, Rudy, Samassekou (Nordtveit 83'), Skov (Zuber 70') - Kramaric (Bruun Larsen 70') – Dabbur (Baumgartner 56'), Bebou
Unused subs: Pentke, Akpoguma, Ribeiro, Elmkies
Out: Adamyan (ankle), Belfodil (knee), Stafylidis (groin)
Coach: Matthias Kaltenbach
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