Oliver Baumann made several crucial saves to rescue a point for Hoffenheim against Eintracht Frankfurt - © © imago / Huebner
Oliver Baumann made several crucial saves to rescue a point for Hoffenheim against Eintracht Frankfurt - © © imago / Huebner

Eintracht Frankfurt held away to Hoffenheim

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Eintracht Frankfurt were held to a goalless draw away to struggling TSG 1899 Hoffenheim on Matchday 12.

Hoffenheim 0-0 Frankfurt

Boosted by last week’s draw at home to Bundesliga leaders FC Bayern München, Frankfurt started confidently, bossing the opening half at the WIRSOL Rhein-Neckar-Arena. The Eagles’ early pressure almost paid dividends five minutes in, last season’s top goalscorer Alexander Meier seeing an effort denied by Oliver Baumann. Haris Seferovic then missed two clear-cut opportunities either side of the half-hour mark.

Aleksandar Ignjovski really should have broken the deadlock for Eintracht minutes after the restart with only the keeper to beat, the Serbia international firing wide from inside the area. Without a home win in 2015/16, Hoffenheim started to find a way into the game as the match wore on, Kevin Volland missing their first chance of note approaching the hour-mark. Stefan Aigner could have given Frankfurt all three points late on, but failed to make the most of the opportunity as both sides settled for a point.

Man of the match

It may not have been enough for Hoffenheim to snatch all three points, but it was goalkeeper Baumann they had to thank for securing a point, the former SC Freiburg shot-stopper denying Frankfurt on numerous occasions.

Talking point

Despite being made to work for the point, Hoffenheim seem to have regained confidence under new coach Huub Stevens, the Dutchman leading the Sinsheim side to consecutive draws in his two matches in charge.

Match stats

    Hoffenheim custodian Baumann made as many as six saves in the first half.The 1899ers remain winless at home in the current campaign.Hoffenheim summer signing Kevin Kuranyi earned his first start since Matchday 4.

Line-ups

Hoffenheim: Baumann - Strobl, Süle, Bicakcic, Kim - Rudy (Polanski 60'), Schwegler - Volland, Schmid - Vargas (Amiri 66'), Kuranyi (Szalai 79')

Frankfurt: Hradecky - Hasebe, Zambrano, Abraham, Oczipka - Stendera, Reinartz - Aigner (Kinsombi 90'), Ignjovski - Meier - Seferovic (Castaignos 89')