Andrej Kramaric on target as Hoffenheim rescue draw at Wolfsburg
Andrej Kramaric struck late in the second-half to extend Hoffenheim's unbeaten run in the Bundesliga to seven matches as Wolfsburg had to settle for a 2-2 draw against their rivals for a European place.
Wolfsburg 2-2 Hoffenheim
Goals: 0-1 Belfodil (4’), 1-1 Bicakcic (o.g. 29’), 2-1 Ginczek (32’), 2-2 Kramaric (71')
Hoffenheim were given the perfect start courtesy of Ishak Belfodil’s sumptuous volley after just four minutes. The Algerian expertly steered Andrej Kramaric’s clipped pass back across goal and beyond Koen Casteels in the Wolfsburg goal to give the guests an early lead. It was a wake up call for the hosts who responded in the best possible fashion with two goals in three first-half minutes. Daniel Ginczek was integral in hauling his side in front, first forcing Ermin Bicakcic to power a header into his own net courtesy of a wicked cross from the right. Moments later Ginczek again tormented the Hoffenheim left-side, exchanging passes with Admir Mehmedi before rifling beyond Oliver Baumann.
Both sides struggled to press home an advantage at the start of the second half with gilt-edged chances hard to come by at either end. Hoffenheim called upon top-scoring English forward Reiss Nelson on the hour mark and his introduction helped spark the away team into a comeback of their own. Hoffenheim dragged themselves level when Kramaric - who was their creative heartbeat - tapped home with 17 minutes left, with the help of Video Assist. It set up a grandstand finish with both teams searching for a winner but neither could quite do enough to take home all three points.
Match stats
- Suspended Wolfsburg defender John Brooks missed his first game of the season, having not previously missed a second of Bundesliga action in 2018/19.Ginczek’s goal was his fifth of the season. Wout Weghorst is currently Wolfsburg’s top scorer in 2018/19 with six goals.Hoffenheim are unbeaten in their last seven Bundesliga matches (W4, D3).Nagelsmann’s side have scored a league-high 17 Bundesliga goals on their travels.Hoffenheim have scored at least once in every Bundesliga game they have played so far this season.Kramaric is now level with Nelson as Hoffenheim’s top-scorer with six goals and the Croatian now has four goals in his last five games.
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Line-ups
Wolfsburg: Casteels – Verhaegh, Knoche, Uduokhai, Roussillon – Gerhardt, Guilavogui (c), Arnold, – Mehmedi (Brekalo 66') – Ginczek (Steffen 84'), Weghorst
Unused subs: Pervan, Bruma, Malli, Klaus, Itter
Out: Brooks (suspended), Camacho (ankle), Jung (thigh), Tisserand (thigh), William (suspended)
Coach: Bruno Labbadia
Hoffenheim: Baumann – Bicakcic, Vogt (Szalai 46'), Hübner, Kaderabek – Zuber (Nelson 59'), Demirbay (Grillitsch 44'), Schulz – Kramaric – Belfodil, Joelinton
Unused subs: Kobel, Brenet, Bittencourt, Adams
Out: Nordtveit (foot), Otto (foot), Rupp (cruciate ligament)
Coach: Julian Nagelsmann
As it happened