After a game full of excitement, TSG Hoffenheim scored big points in the relegation battle. At Eintracht Frankfurt, the league frustration returns after moving into the cup final – and coach Oliver Glasner shouted at a journalist.
After the tenth point game without a win, Glasner’s nerves are obviously on edge. The Austrian, who saw the red card at TSG Hoffenheim (1:3) on Saturday (45+1), quarreled with a critical journalist during the press conference after the game.
“Stop me with this rubbish, I know what the boys are doing, stop me with the fact that the players don’t get it, that they don’t show any commitment or have no character,” yelled the excited Glasner at the long-time Eintracht reporter.
The experienced journalist reacted calmly: “I don’t know why they’re yelling at me like that. But I don’t care either. I asked a completely normal question.”
It was already clear before the press conference how tense the situation at Eintracht was. Those responsible, such as the professionals of the cup finalists and Europa League winners, initially did not want to comment on the game in Sinsheim.
Hoffenheim – Frankfurt: “Silent protest against the referee’s performance”
Glasner had previously watched from the stands as the around 10,000 Eintracht Frankfurt fans who had traveled with them cheered their battered professionals up with encouraging “Berlin, Berlin” calls. On the other hand, the TSG Hoffenheim players danced exuberantly in front of their supporters after the valuable sign of life in the relegation battle.
Despite reaching the DFB Cup final, Eintracht’s Bundesliga dry spell continues. After the 1:3 on the fourth-to-last matchday in Kraichgau, the Glasner team has now been waiting for a win for ten league games.
“Everyone fought for the other. The mood in the dressing room is great, but we’re not through yet,” said TSG midfielder Grischa Prömel. Christoph Baumgartner, scorer of the 1-0 (8th), spoke of a “brutally important” victory.
Glasner, who saw red in the heated final phase of the first half, agreed sky of a “silent protest against the referee’s performance”. Previously, he had intentionally kicked a second ball onto the pitch. “I thought it might be yellow,” said Glasner, who will be suspended in the upcoming neighborhood duel against FSV Mainz 05.
Hoffenheim – Frankfurt: Red for Glasner and Nsoki
Baumgartner, Andrej Kramaric from the penalty spot (41st) and Ihlas Bebou (45th + 3) scored in a gripping game for Hoffenheim, who had been outnumbered for a long time and who, after two bankruptcies recently, improved to 14th place with 32 points. The dismissal of Stanley Nsoki because of gross foul play (48th) was not decisive.
Eintracht’s chances of qualifying for the European Cup via the league are getting worse and worse. Mario Götze’s goal (54th) didn’t change that.
The hosts dominated the early stages in front of 30,150 spectators in the sold-out Sinsheimer Arena. The lead through Baumgartner’s header was the deserved reward. Frankfurt waited in vain for chances after half an hour.
In the 35th minute, Kramaric should have extended the lead in his 250th competitive game for TSG. Eintracht goalkeeper Kevin Trapp deflected the Croatian’s shot from close range to the crossbar. Shortly thereafter, however, Kramaric increased from the point. The Japanese Daichi Kamada had fouled Baumgartner – that’s how the referee Harm Osmers and video referee Guido Winkmann saw it.
In the hectic minutes leading up to the break, events came to a head. First, Osmers collided with Eintracht professional Djibril Sow so violently that he had to interrupt the game briefly, then Glasner saw red. Bebou used the Frankfurt disorder to score the third goal.
At the beginning of the second half, Nsoki hit substitute Paxten Aaronson in the head, and the dismissal was correct. With a majority, Eintracht narrowed Hoffenheim in defense and Götze scored quickly.
Things continued to get hot after that, TSG coach Pellegrino Matarazzo saw a yellow card for complaining (66′). Frankfurt struggled, but only gained a few promising opportunities.
TSG Hoffenheim – Eintracht Frankfurt: The voices
Pellegrino Matarazzo (TSG Hoffenheim coach): “In the first half we showed the greed we wanted to show – even if everything wasn’t perfect. In the second half we showed a lot of heart. All in all it was a deserved win.”
Oliver Glasner (Eintracht Frankfurt coach): “We concede far too many goals away from home and concede far too easily. This problem has been with us for many weeks and we can’t get it under control. It wears you down when you’re always chasing a deficit.”
TSG Hoffenheim – Eintracht Frankfurt: The line-ups
