TSG come from behind to beat Schalke
Personnel & tactics:
Head coach Sebastian Hoeness made two changes to the starting XI that had drawn 1-1 away to SC Freiburg. Kevin Akpoguma replaced the injured Chris Richards and, along with Pavel Kadeřábek, Stefan Posch and Ryan Sessegnon, formed the back four protecting goalkeeper Oliver Baumann. Florian Grillitsch and Diadie Samassékou kept their places in defensive midfield. Christoph Baumgartner started in place of Sargis Adamyan on the left of attack, while Robert Skov lined up on the right and Andrej Kramarić operated in the hole behind lone frontman Ihlas Bebou.
TSG made a substitution at the break, with Skov making way for Sargis Adamyan. Sebastian Rudy and Maximilian Beier then replaced Samassékou and Bebou in the 83rd minute. Six minutes later, Mijat Gaćinović came on for Baumgartner (89).
Moment of the match:
The goal for 2-1: Andrej Kramarić scored a wonderful free-kick to reduce the deficit to 2-1 and kickstart the comeback. It was the Croat's 18th goal of this Bundesliga season. That means he is now level with Vedad Ibisevic's record from the 2008/09 campaign. No Hoffenheim player has scored more goals in a Bundesliga season.
Number of the game: 39
The victory over FC Schalke 04 means TSG now have 39 points on the board. Hoffenheim are therefore mathematically safe from relegation with two games to go, and will begin their 14th Bundesliga campaign this summer.
Line-ups:
TSG Hoffenheim: Baumann – Kadeřábek, Posch, Akpoguma, Sessegnon – Samassékou (Rudy, 83), Grillitsch – Skov (Adamyan, 46), Kramarić, Baumgartner (Gaćinović, 89) – Bebou (Beier, 83)
FC Schalke 04: Fährmann – Becker, Mustafi, Oczipka – Schöpf (Kaparos, 73), Flick, Kolasinac – Serdar (Bozdogan, 68), Harit (Skrzybski, 73) – Huntelaar (Mercan, 86), Uth (Hoppe, 86)
Goals: 0-1 Uth (12), 0-2 Mustafi (42), 1-2 Kramarić (47), 2-2 Akpoguma (52), 3-2 Baumgartner (60), 4-2 Bebou (64)