Hübner the hero as Hoffenheim seal top-four berth
A dramatic Benjamin Hübner header in the closing seconds helped Hoffenheim to defeat Eintracht Frankfurt and guarantee a top-four finish in this season's Bundesliga.
Hoffenheim 1-0 Eintracht Frankfurt
Goals: 1-0 Hübner (90')
Content to cede possession to their grateful hosts for large parts of the opening half, Eintracht nonetheless faced few opposing efforts on goal in the game’s early stages. Probing patiently, Hoffenheim were forced to wait until the 26th minute before forging a significant chance. Pavel Kaderabek’s cross initially evading striker Sandro Wagner, Nadiem Amiri’s subsequent effort came off Michael Hector before striking the outside of the upright.
These teams played out a scoreless draw in the corresponding fixture on Matchday 14 and with chances remaining at a premium after the restart, a repeat of that result was on the cards here. Eintracht thought they had gone ahead in the 53rd minute when David Abraham deflected in Marco Fabian’s effort on goal, however, the former Hoffenheim defender’s effort was ruled out for offside. The hosts then held off a late surge from Haris Seferovic before Hübner rose at the death to head Sebastian Rudy's corner home and send the home fans into ecstasy.
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Man of the Match
In a tight contest of few opportunities any match-winner was going to take the limelight here, and so it proved with Hübner the undoubted hero of the hour for Hoffenheim following his second Bundesliga goal for the club.
Talking point
A draw would have seen Nagelsmann's men claim a top-four finish yet victory helped Hoffenheim leapfrog Dortmund into third spot ahead of a mouthwatering Matchday 32 meeting between the teams, both now desperate to make direct progress into the UEFA Champions League group stage.
Match Stats
- Hoffenheim have scored more goals in the last ten minutes of games than any other team this season.The hosts are enjoying their best finish to a top-flight campaign with their current points tally standing at 58.Hoffenheim are one of three teams - Bayern Munich and Dortmund the other two - still undefeated at home.
Line-ups:
Hoffenheim: Baumann - Süle, Vogt, Hübner - Kaderabek, Zuber - Rudy (c) - Demirbay, Amiri - Wagner, Kramaric
Coach: Julian Nagelsmann
Eintracht: Hradecky - M. Hector, Abraham, Russ (c) - Chandler, Varela, Stendera, Oczipka - Fabian - Seferovic , Barkok
Coach: Niko Kovac
Watch: Hoffenheim coach Nagelsmann offers his thoughts on his side's win