Hoffenheim suffer costly UEFA Europa League loss to Tottenham Hotspur
Hoffenheim were undone by a two-goal salvo from Tottenham Hotspur's Heung-min Son in a defeat that leaves their 2024/25 UEFA Europa League campaign hanging by a thread.
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Hoffenheim 2-3 Tottenham Hotspur Goals: 0-1 Maddison 3' (assist: Porro), 0-2 Son 22' (assist: Maddison), 2-1 Stach 68' (assist: Jurásek), 1-3 Son 77' (assist: Moore), 2-3Mokwa 88' (assist: Kramarić)
Among the Europa League elimination places at the start of play, Hoffenheim's prospects of climbing into play-off contention were dealt a blow inside three minutes when James Maddison fired past Oliver Baumann from 18 yards. Richarlison tested the Hoffenheim goalkeeper soon after and Pedro Porro dragged a shot wide as Spurs turned the screw in search of a second goal. Maddison was involved when it came, the England international playing in ex-Bundesliga star Son for a composed finish from inside the area. Bayern Munich-bound Tom Bischof responded with a well-struck effort that had Brandon Austin at full stretch, but the visitors ended the half in the ascendancy, with Baumann reacting sharply to thwart Lucas Bergvall's powerful downward header.
Hoffenheim were much improved after the restart as Andrej Kramarić grazed the crossbar with an improvised effort from a Pavel Kadeřábek cross. Austin had to be alert to a teasing David Jurásek delivery, before Bischof whipped a shot narrowly past the upright in another show of TSG's intentions. The Bundesliga club's persistence told in the 68th minute when, shortly after Max Moerstedt had seen a penalty appeal waved away, Anton Stach converted Jurásek's cross from close range for 1-1. However, just when Christian Ilzer's men had their tails up, Son restored his side's two-goal lead with a fine strike into the bottom corner. Substitute David Mokwa's first senior goal set up a grandstand finish, but Hoffenheim could not find the equaliser needed to stave off a third defeat in seven Europa League games. They now need to win at Anderlecht in their final fixture of the league phase and hope results elsewhere go their way to have any chance of reaching the play-offs.
Match stats
Kramarić is Hoffenheim’s seven-goal Bundesliga top scorer so far in 2024/25, but is yet to add to his eight Europa League goals from past campaigns.
Son registered 41 goals and 10 assists across 135 Bundesliga appearances for Hamburg and Bayer Leverkusen.
Frenchman Mowka, 20, was making only his second first-term appearance.
Hoffenheim have lost all three meetings with English opposition, after also falling short in the UEFA Champions League to Liverpool (2017/18 qualifying) and Manchester City (2018/19 groups).
Hoffenheim are competing in their third season of Europa League football. Their best run took them to the round of 32 in 2020/21.
Ange Postecoglou's previous meetings with Bundesliga sides ended in defeat. The Australian oversaw 3-1 and 2-0 losses to Leipzig in the 2022/23 group stage whilst in charge of Celtic.
Tottenham: Austin - Porro, Drăgușin, Davies, Gray - Maddison (Olusesi 89'), Kulusevski, Bergvall - Bentacur, Richarlison (Moore 56'), Son (c) (Lankshear 79') Unused subs: Forster, Whiteman, Cassanova, Ajayi, Hardy Out: Johnson (leg), Kinsky (ineligible), Romero (thigh), Solanke (knee), Udogie (thigh), Van de Ven (thigh), Vicario (ankle), Werner (thigh) Coach: Ange Postecoglou
As it happened!
2 - 3
(0 - 2)
Hoffenheim
FINAL
Spurs
Europa League League phase, Matchday 7 League phase, Matchday 7 PreZero Arena
Full-time: Hoffenheim 2-3 Spurs
Spurs breathe a collective sigh of relief as the final whistle blows. The English side were great in the first half, cutting Hoffenheim open time and again but they took their foot off the gas in the second. Hoffenheim attacked and harried with menace after half time but were ultimately just not good enough. A thrilling spectacle. Hoffenheim's hopes of progression hang by a thread.
Kulusevski tries to shield the ball near the corner flag but he's soon dispossessed as Hoffenheim charge forward again.
90'
+ 3
Hoffenheim throw everything at Spurs!
It's backs to the wall stuff for Spurs who desperately scramble to clear wave after wave of Hoffenheim attacks. Moerstadt has a chance to win it with a header but he can't get enough on it. Spurs clear but it just comes straight back again.
90'
Five minutes added...
Plenty of time for Hoffenheim to pinch something here. Hold onto your hats!
89'
Spurs sub
Olusesi comes in for Maddison.
88'
Here we go!
Kramarić bends a lovely cross into the area and Mokwa rises to nod it over Austin. It's a cracking header and it blows the roof off the place. Could we see the unthinkable?
Tottenham's third has really flattened the atmosphere, here. Hoffenheim had been brilliant in the second half until that moment. A comeback seems unikely now.
When things were better
Stach looks on as his effort halves Tottenham's lead in the 70th minute. Hoffenheim are now 3-1 down.
Spurs have been penned in their own box all half but they break with wicked intent, here. Mikey Moore finds space inside the Hoffenheim half to run at the defence. He slips a smart pass left to Son, who rounds his man before smacking a low shot into the far corner of Baumann's net. Ruthless.
The home side break through Kramarić, who carries the ball into the Spurs half before a smart reverse pass to Jurásek, charging down the right-hand side. The Czech slides a low ball right across the area, where it's poked into the far corner by Stach. Lovely move.
The referee is advised to go over to the monitor and eventually decides the goalkeeper had every right to fist Moerstedt in the face. In fairness, Austin had to go for that ball and just about got a hand to it before making contact with the striker.
63'
Hoffenheim may have a penalty...
Moerstedt rises to meet a cross in the Spurs box but is flattened by Austin. The referee will review this...
60'
Bischof close!
The youngster looks to chip Austin from the edge of the box but his effort goes narrowly wide of the left post. So close.
59'
Hoffenheim dominating
Kramarić collects a cross with his back to goal before turning and shooting. It bounces back to the Croatian, who feeds the ball out to the left flank. Jurásek smashes a low cross back into the area and Austin pounces on it.
57'
Spurs make a change
It's Mikey Moore on for Richarlison early in the second half.
54'
Kramarić hits the bar!
Kadeřábek swings a delightful cross into the Tottenham box and Kramarić meets it. He's running backwards as he connects but still manages to lift it high over Austin towards the far corner of the net. It just clips the bar and goes out for a goal kick. Better from Hoffenheim!
54'
Hoffenheim on the front foot
Spurs seem content to sit deep and soak up pressure at the start of this half, as Hoffenheim push high in search of a goal. The visitors are camped inside their area, with 11 men behind the ball.
50'
Scrappy start
Niggly foul after niggly foul at the start of the second period, as Hoffenheim evidently look to get more stuck in to their visitors in this 45.
46'
No changes
Neither side makes a substitution at the break.
Kick-off!
Half-time: Hoffenheim 0-2 Spurs
The visitors deservedly lead at the break, having tormented Hoffenheim's defenders for 45 minutes. There is far too much space for the likes of Maddison, Son and Richarlison. Hoffenheim are still in this but they must tighten up.
Maddison bends in a dangerous free-kick from the left and an unmarked Bergvall rises to meet it. He's just a few metres from goal and keeps his header down but Baumann reacts superbly to deny the young Swede. Great goalkeeping.
40'
Moerstedt should score
The forward has another chance to fire at goal, after beating his marker to a deflected Bischof effort, but again he's off balance and can't get enough meat behind his shot. He's falling as he sends a pea roller into the grateful arms of Austin.
37'
Good pressure form Hoffenheim
The home side take their third corner in quick succession, suffocating the Premier League side every time they clear. Great pressing and intensity from Hoffenheim, but their final ball needs to improve.
32'
So close from Bischof!
Kadeřábek is found with space on the right and whips a dangerous ball across the Tottenham box. It finds its way to Bischof, unmarked just outside the area. The midfielder hits a daisy cutter towards goal and it takes the outstretched fingers of Austin to prevent it hitting the bottom left corner of the goal.
Son shining
The South Korean scored Tottenham's second goal with a cool finish in the 22nd minute.
Kulusevski breaks down the right flank and races towards the Hoffenheim defence. He spots a great run on the opposite flank from Maddison and attempts to play him through on goal, but Kadeřábek slides in to prevent the pass in the nick of time.
26'
Moerstedt goes close!
Hoffenheim want a penalty but the referee isn't having any of it. Really, they should have just finished the chance, as Moerstedt collects a deflected shot just a few metres from goal. He's falling as he shoots, and his effort rolls limply into the arms of a grateful Austin.
22'
Son makes it two!
Some find hold-up play by James Maddison, who dances away from two defenders on the halfway line before spotting the run of Son, who is charging into the Hoffenheim half. Maddison's pass is almost cut out, but just reaches the South Korean, who takes a touch before knocking it past Baumann. Hoffenheim all at sea.
Hoffenheim win a free-kick within shooting range and Hložek takes. He smashes his effort into the wall and it's cleared. A waste on a night when set pieces could be crucial.
16'
Son blasts over
The South Korean is found galloping down the left flank before cutting inside his marker and unleashing a wayward shot over the Hoffenheim crossbar. The home side really need to tighten up.
14'
Tottenham should score!
Son picks out a rampant Porro, who has room to shoot unchallenged from the edge of the Hoffenheim area. He should hit the target but drags his shot just wide of the right post.
12'
Richarlison goes close
The Brazilian dashes in-behind the Hoffenheim defence and is found in space. The angle is slightly too wide, on the right of the box, but he manages to hit a low, hard drive at goal. It's a simple save for Baumann, but this is too easy for Tottenham so far.
Maddison on the money
The Spurs playmaker watches his fourth-minute effort fizz beyond Baumann and into the Hoffenheim net.
That's more like it from the home side. A nice passage of play down the left flank culminates in Bischof collecting the ball with space and taking a shot from the edge of the area. It's blocked easily enough but a sign of life from Hoffenheim.
4'
Spurs take an early lead!
Porro lofts a beautiful ball over the Hoffenheim defence, directly onto the toe of Maddison. The England international takes a touch, under no pressure at all, before rifling a shot beyond Baumann from the edge of the box to give the away side the lead.
Tottenham tyro Archie Gray (18) has played every minute of his club's opening six Europa League games this season – and the defender starts again here.
Turning tide?
Spurs have won just one of their past six games against German opponents in UEFA competitions – that being their most recent, against Eintracht Frankfurt in October 2022.
More on those teams
Ilzer makes a handful of changes to the team that beat Kiel in the Bundesliga at the weekend. Nsoki, Kadeřábek and Jurásek are cycled in for Chaves, Gendrey and Prass in defence, while midfielder Becker replaces the ineligible Yardımcı. As for Spurs, forwards Bentancur and Richarlison come in. There's also a switch in goal, where Forster makes way for Austin.
"You spend a year competing to qualify for a European competition (and) then you get a big Premier League club as an opponent. We want to make the most of the opportunity to present ourselves on the big stage. It's something special."
"The players are giving everything in every game. This has been a good solid two months of us relying on a small group of players. We’re in every competition which is a great thing but it adds a toll. We’re still in three cup competitions so there’s a fantastic opportunity there for us in the next couple of months."
Hoffenheim's Germany international goalkeeper, Oliver Baumann, urged his teammates to use last weekend's win to push them to greater things this season. "This was the first step in the right direction," the TSG captain said. "We had good energy, a lot of passion and were there for each other. We were a cohesive unit. The direction is clear and so is the significance of this win. I'm relieved; this must give us confidence and courage."
Adam Hložek is Hoffenheim's top scorer in the Europa League with two goals and he took his Bundesliga tally to five with Saturday's crucial double against Kiel.
Spurs have been suffering in the English Premier League of late, with Thursday's visitors to Germany winning just once in their last 10 top-flight games, losing seven. Their latest setback came with a 3-2 loss against Everton at the weekend. In the Europa League, Ange Postecoglou's side are currently in ninth spot, with three wins and two draws from their six games.
TSG have picked up six points from their six Europa League games to date and although currently occupying one of the elimination spots in the tournament's league phase, Christian Ilzer's side are just one point from the play-off places for the Round of 16.
Hoffenheim were nine games without a win in all competitions prior to last weekend's 3-1 victory at fellow Bundesliga strugglers Holstein Kiel. The result lifted the Sinsheimers three points clear of a relegation play-off spot and brought some much-needed morale.
Welcome!
Thanks for joining us for build-up and live coverage of Hoffenheim's seventh UEFA Europa League game of the 2024/25 league phase away at home to Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday.