Jiloan Hamad (l.) was relieved to finally open his Bundesliga account in Hoffenheim's 1-1 draw at home to Bayer Leverkusen on Matchday 18. - © © gettyimages / Matthias Hangst
Jiloan Hamad (l.) was relieved to finally open his Bundesliga account in Hoffenheim's 1-1 draw at home to Bayer Leverkusen on Matchday 18. - © © gettyimages / Matthias Hangst

Hamad: Hoffenheim 'can be happy' with Leverkusen draw

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A 1-1 draw with top-four contenders Bayer 04 Leverkusen is not to be sniffed at when you are fighting against relegation, according to the TSG 1899 Hoffenheim camp.

TSG 1899 Hoffenheim 1-1 Bayer 04 Leverkusen

Goals: 1-0 Hamad (40'), 1-1 Toprak (75’)

Jiloan Hamad (Hoffenheim forward): "I’m happy and grateful to have got the chance to play today. I’ve not been on the pitch for a while, but I’m feeling good. Of course three points would have been better, but I think we can be happy. The goal came as a massive relief to me. I got the chance, took a touch and it went in."

Huub Stevens (Hoffenheim head coach): "We struggled to get into the game, but then we took the lead out of nothing. You saw the psychological effect that had on us in the final third, especially in the second half. We should have rewarded ourselves with a second goal. We conceded the equaliser and we have to make do with the point. The result it disappointing, but we played well. That’s how we have to approach the relegation battle."

Sebastian Rudy (Hoffenheim midfielder): "We found our feet after taking the lead and after half-time, but should have made it 2-0. It wouldn’t have been in the bag even then, but it would have been another step in the right direction. I think we fought and played well today, though, and showed the right approach. We created good chances and have to continue like this. We’re not entirely happy with the point, though. Admittedly it’s a good result, but we obviously wanted to win. It was a good performance, though, and we did everything to make sure the opposition didn’t come away with the win."

Roger Schmidt (Leverkusen head coach): "We’d like to have won today, and we had chances to do so towards the end - the team had a few clear-cut chances. It was always going to be a tough game - Hoffenheim [started the game in] 18th, but they’re better than that. They surprised us with their approach at the start, too. We were in control, but we had to be on our guard. After they went 1-0 up, they had some good passages of play before the break, but then we wrestled the game back. There was more in it after the equaliser. We have to live with the point."