The capital high is already over: TSG Hoffenheim has suddenly stopped Hertha BSC’s latest upward trend. The hopeless Bundesliga club from Berlin lost 2-0 (0-2) at TSG at the start of the 10th matchday and was miles away from their fourth competitive win in a row. In the table, Hertha (twelve points) initially slipped to eleventh place.
“It’s not nice, but we have to swallow that,” said Hertha coach Pal Dardai DAZN. “I think we gave a lot away in the first half. But in the end it was a deserved win for Hoffenheim.”
Andrej Kramaric (19th) and Sebastian Rudy (36th) scored for Hoffenheim (14 points), who initially climbed to seventh place. The winless series of Hertha coach Pal Dardai, who was on the sidelines in his 200th competitive game, continues. The Hungarian has only got one point out of seven guest appearances at TSG. To make matters worse, defender Dedryck Boyata saw the red card for gross foul play (76th).
In front of a mere 8127 spectators in the Rhein-Neckar-Arena, things got straight to the point. The Hoffenheim team already had a good chance to take the lead in the 5th minute. After a strong combination, Angelo Stiller could not utilize. On the other side, Marco Richter failed just a few seconds later to TSG goalkeeper Oliver Baumann (6th).
After that, the encounter calmed down before Kramaric stepped on the scene. The Croatian runner-up world champion met Hertha for the ninth time after preliminary work by Robert Skov. The attacker did not score against any other Bundesliga club more often.
The residue left its mark on the guests, who had to do without Lukas Klünter, Marvin Plattenhardt, Marton Dardai and Jordan Torunarigha. Hertha acted confused. Kramaric almost used that for his next goal (28th). Skov’s chance was even bigger shortly afterwards (31st).
The Hoffenheim team, who missed national player David Raum (ankle problems), Ermin Bicakcic, Benjamin Hübner, Marco John and Pavel Kaderabek, who was missing at short notice, dominated the game in this phase. Rudy’s goal was anything but surprising.
At the beginning of the second round, Dardai reacted. The coach brought two fresh forces in Myziane Maolida and Stevan Jovetic. However, it was first Ihlas Bebou from Hoffenheim who took the stage. The attacker had the third TSG goal on his feet (49th).
After this scene, the Kraichgauer let the reins drag a little, but the harmless Berliners could not take advantage of that. The fact that Boyata had to leave the pitch for his foul on Stiller after video evidence fit into the picture.
Hoffenheim – Hertha: The voices
Sebastian Hoeneß (coach TSG Hoffenheim): “After 15 minutes of the first half we were superior. We then showed a certain effectiveness and scored two goals, it was even possible more. We didn’t allow much. It felt stable.”
Pal Dardai (coach Hertha BSC): “We gave our skin far too easily. We had the first big chance. If we do that, the game will be completely different. In the second half it was difficult after the red card.”
