Christoph Baumgartner scored twice in minutes as Hoffenheim overturn Stuttgart late #1410
Hoffenheim 2 Stuttgart 1FT
Another exciting and dramatic German football match took place on Friday night in Stuttgart. With another battle between two teams at opposite sides of the table. Stuttgart desperately wants to get out of the bottom of the table as they are facing what seems like inevitable relegation; meanwhile, they would host comeback Kings Hoffenheim as they continued to have their eyes on the Champions League with the season heating up at the right time. It turned out to be a stunning affair as the atmosphere in Stuttgart hoping to inspire the team to Victory. However, unsurprisingly, Hoffenheim showed their superiority and looked like the superior side during the first half of play. Stuttgart did have chances of their own as they tried to hold off against a strong Hoffenheim that had the potential to do significant damage. Following a head injury to Hoffenheim, Stuttgart cashed in almost immediately off a corner as Sasha Karadzic found Endo as the hosts took a shock lead. The majority of the second half was Hoffenheim vibing for a breakthrough. Hoffenheim had picked up 18 points from losing positions this season, the most in Europe. It was only going to be a matter of time before they started turning this around, and that’s exactly what occurred. Christoph Baumgartner scored twice in 5 minutes as Hoffenheim overturned an early second-half goal from Stuttgart to ultimately leave town with maximum points as they continue to knock on the door of Champions League while more gas report on the Fire in Stuttgart at survival looks bleak as Hoffenheim come from behind to secure a 2–1 victory.
After preparations and predictions, the match got underway in Stuttgart as we saw another clash from opposite sides of the table. Stuttgart desperately tried to find some solace and climb out of the bottom as they would host a Hoffenheim team in a dogfight for Champions League football. Both teams need points for very different reasons. Hoffenheim came into the game as the favorites expected to handle their business, but it’s never as easy as it seems Stuttgart would do everything; they could try to get something from the game. We sought more or less what we expected from the early Goings, with Hoffenheim looking like the more assertive ones. Hoffenheim’s playmaker from the Midfield, Christoph Baumgartner, attempted to facilitate a cross for David Raum, but the defense of got in the way just seconds later. Hoffenheim tried to find some space on the follow-up as Dennis Geiger struck from a distance, but his shot was blocked by the defense once again. A hazardous starts from the visitors getting into dangerous areas immediately. Just mere moments later, Hoffenheim came close to a breakthrough. Andrej Kramaric set up Bebu as the striker directed a header from very close range but could not locate where he wanted to as it goes a little wide. Stuttgart attempted to reply, trying to get some momentum for the home side. Omar Marmoush followed through on strike from Deep coming from a corner, but the Wolfsburg on-loan player missed the mark. Stuttgart looked dangerous periodically, but they were going to need to be able to cash in on their opportunity when their chances have there been an uphill battle as it is. It did seem like Hoffenheim did have the momentum, at least at that moment, but that didn’t mean that Stuttgart couldn’t bang with them. Less than 10 minutes later, Andrej Kramaric found Pavel Kaderabek, but his close-range attempt was blocked. Just before the 20-minute mark, Stuttgart shot Tiago Tomas looking for the left corner after an attempt at goal from the left side Oliver Baumann managed to make the save had an opportunity time; a minute later, it is genuinely looked as if Stuttgart were about to take the lead. Tiago released the ball on the counter towards Chris Fuhrich; he followed through before Clinging onto the left post; it appeared as if Hoffenheim and dodged a bullet; it was a matter of margin. Hoffenheim hit back immediately and would be a victim of misfortune. Benjamin Hubner put his head across coming from Andrej Kramaric. The goalkeeper made the save before Kaderabek attempted the rebound hitting the bar right in front of the goal; devastating has Hoffenheim had two fantastic chances to cash in. However, it only intensified as Hoffenheim felt as if they were in control. Oliver Baumann, around the half-hour mark, denied Omar Marmoush. This ignited a sense of aggressiveness from Hoffenheim. A few minutes later, Stefan Posch was denied after stretching it from Deep. Unfortunately, Stuttgart had to make a change due to injury as Mangala, one of the bright stars of this Stuttgart team, had to be sacrificed as Phillip Forrester came in to replace him. Benjamin Hubner followed through with a header from the side of the box as David Raum found him on a corner they were unable to capitalize but then a minute later, Christopher Baumgartner nearly scored, trying to pick out the bottom core. Still, once again, the goalkeeper denied him. At the end of the first half, Christoph Baumgartner found Bebu, but his attempted header was deflected at the end of 45 minutes; it was a goalless draw thus far.
A first-half of high-quality chances from both teams. Hoffenheim looked like be more dangerous of the two, but Stuttgart certainly had their chances to breakthrough. Hoffenheim started the second half the same way they ended the first. Bebu got himself in a dangerous position inside the box as he rifled a shot from the side before the goalkeeper handled it. Everything seemed to be going Hoffenheim’s away until about 10 minutes later. Dennis Grieger had to be carted off in a stretcher after taking a blow to the head; it’s really challenging in those moments because every time we see someone getting carried off regardless of circumstances, we think of Christian Eriksen and what happened at the Euros this summer even if it wasn’t severe when it happened it was quite a scary moment at least for the time being. He is mobile and feels okay, but his evening was over. Hoffenheim to replace him would bring it on Bundesliga journeyman Sebastian Rudy. On the very next play on the corner kick in the 58th minute, Sasha Karadzic directed a brilliant header using the back of his head to find a wide-open Wataru Endo, who fired the close-range attempt into the roof of the net as Stuttgart took a 1–0 lead. Certainly, something that seemed like a very defining moment in the season as they continue to try to fight out of the bottom. It felt like they took advantage of a moment, but Hoffenheim would not go away quietly. They are comeback Kings as they have secured 18 points this season from losing position as they are the best team in Europe at coming from behind. Roughly 10 minutes later, Hoffenheim got into position once again as David Raum was able to find Bebu again but the Hoffenheim striker severely mishandled the opportunity as his header goes wide, not challenging to keep her in any way. The way the game was being played slowed down; there weren’t as many flowing chances as possible it was all about the build-up and taking advantage of limited opportunities. Hoffenheim was hoping to find enough space and take advantage of chances when they came their way; meanwhile, Stuttgart was just trying to hang on for dear life. It seemed as if Stuttgart were heading for maximum points as we got deep into the game, but unfortunately, Hoffenheim would find a moment to turn the tide as they always do. In the 85th minute, Hoffenheim did a tremendous job transitioning from the defense to the attack. Sebastian Rudy fielded a decent ball into Christoph Baumgartner. The dynamic midfielder and one of the most underrated in the league, showed his quality. Bumgarner throws the ball near the Box from the outside, then cuts just inside, getting a curler from a tough angle as he surgically converts with an absolutely tremendous strike as Hoffenheim can pay themselves back with still time remaining to maybe get a winner. Right before the end, Stuttgart tried to capitalize on a set piece with very little time left but could not convert. Opening the opportunity for Hoffenheim to break hearts in Stuttgart, that’s precisely what occurred. In the 90th minute, it was Christoph Baumgartner again. A cross-shot from the left wing into the box is failed to be cleared by the Stuttgart defense as Christoph Baumgartner manages to collect before hitting a follow-up strike into the back of the net as Hoffenheim overturned Stuttgart in a matter of minutes, giving Hoffenheim a 2–1 lead. Stuttgart had a couple of late chances in stoppage time but was unable to try to scrape a late point. As the comeback Kings come to play again at Hoffenheim, they have now secured at 21 points from losing positions this season; the Champions League train for Hoffenheim continues as the upstage and breaks hearts in Stuttgart they are facing what now seems like inevitable relegation.
Stuttgart seemed as if they had an opportunity, especially when they took the lead, but heartbreak at the end captures the lack of performance from them this season. It is difficult to understand how they’re in this position in the first place; this team was a top-10 team last season and showed their qualities the year before they have the talent, but they haven’t been able to put it for some reason together. They still are deep in the relegation Zone, hoping somehow to get themselves out of it. If there was never a chance, it was on Friday right after they had taken the lead to start the second half. Hoffenheim is a European team this season; they are desperately trying to fight for that Champions League spot Play Return to the Europa League would also mean a great deal. However, All things considered, they can have difficult situations; they can be a little hot and cold you just have to catch them at the right time and not leave it up to chance. Stuttgart had the momentum to continue to fight and battle on, and they couldn’t close the deal; even getting a point would have been hugely influential for this and trying to get themselves out from the bottom with 10 games left, I’m not sure how much help they have anymore. Meanwhile, Hoffenheim have been one of the surprises this season a team that is getting the best out of their surroundings they don’t go down without a fight, and they don’t go down quickly; they are comeback Kings 21 points from losing positions they have earned this campaign, and Christoph Baumgartner comes up big scoring twice in the closing moments to turn the tide around as now they are knocking on the door of Champions League football while Stuttgart all likelihood will be playing in Bundesliga 2 next season.
