3-1 in Sinsheim: Werkself win away at TSG

Bayer 04 head coach Xabi Alonso made four changes to his starting line-up compared with the previous match at FC Augsburg. On his 27th birthday, Jonathan Tah replaced Odilon Kossounou in defence, Daley Sinkgraven came in on the left for Mitchel Bakker, in midfield Kerem Demirbay replaced Exequiel Palacios and Florian Wirtz started instead of Amine Adli. Everybody was available for the Werkself in Sinsheim with the exception of the ill Patrik Schick plus the two injured players Charles Aránguiz and Andrey Lunev.

The kick-off at the PreZero Arena was preceded by one minute's silence for the victims of the earthquake disaster in Turkey and Syria. The hosts, with their new coach Pellegrino Matarazzo in charge for the first time, set out with the intention of putting the Werkself under pressure. But Bayer 04 made a good start and were able to express themselves with the first attack on goal on three minutes when Wirtz put Moussa Diaby through on the left only for his low cross to be intercepted by a Hoffenheim player as Jeremie Frimpong was set to shoot.

Andrich scores opener with aplomb

The lively Leverkusen team took the lead shortly after that: Wirtz crossed the ball into the box for Robert Andrich who left the TSG keeper Oliver Baumann with no chance with a curler from 18 yards out into the far corner of the net – the hoped-for early lead for the Werkself (6'). Bayer 04 were clearly on top after that as they kept hold of the ball and prevented Hoffenheim developing their play. And the Werkself continued to look for gaps in the TSG defence: Wirtz brilliantly foxed an opponent when he received the ball and he set Diaby through but his cross failed to find a teammate (22').

Frimpong almost makes it 2-0

It was a different matter minutes later when a cross from Sinkgraven to the far post found Frimpong who outjumped Angelino but his header landed on top of the net (23’). When Edmond Tapsoba put Frimpong through on Baumann, John Anthony Brooks intervened so that Baumann was able to make the save with his foot (26'). The Werkself were solid at the back and Piero Hincapie stopped a TSG move with an excellent tackle on Ihlas Bebou (29'). At the other end, a pass from Diaby to Wirtz lacked the necessary precision (35’). There was a fright a minute later when Brooks stood on Wirtz’ ankle and the Germany international had to be treated on the pitch. The Hoffenheim player was deservedly shown a yellow card and Wirtz was able to continue. Bayer 04 did not make the most of counter-attacks in this phase of the game as with Diaby who wasted a chance in a very promising situation with men over on 43 minutes. The visitors went into half-time with a deserved lead.

dream start to second half

Hoffenheim started the second half by bringing on Kasper Dolberg as a second striker in place of midfielder Dennis Geiger. However, the Werkself responded in their own way with a lightning attack: Wirtz again put Frimpong through down the right and he squared the ball to Diaby to make it 2-0 with a tap-in (46'), the seventh goal of the season for the Frenchman. The hosts then had their first real chance seven minutes later when a left-foot shot from Kevin Akpoguma went just wide of the post (53'). Then it was time for the team in red to show their heels again: In an inimitable and irresistible way, Frimpong left three Hoffenheim players standing as he set up Adam Hlozek to score the third goal for Leverkusen (56').

Lukas Hradecky was tested but the Finland keeper comfortably saved a left-foot shot from Dolberg (68') and he pulled off a brilliant save with his arm to deny Andrej Kramaric (71'). The Werkself made two substitutions, Palacios and Nadiem Amiri came on for Diaby and Hlozek (73'). And TSG then scored their goal: Nsoki found the back of the Werkself net with a powerful shot in the penalty area to make it 3-1 on 77 minutes. Xabi Alonso then made two more changes: Bakker and Adli replaced Sinkgraven and Demirbay who made his 100th Bundesliga appearance for the Black and Reds (81'). Hradecky made a double save to keep out a low shot from Ozan Kabak and the follow-up effort from Kramaric (83'). Karim Bellarabi then came on for the outstanding Frimpong (86'). The final whistle soon followed as the Werkself picked up three valuable points.

Monaco then Mainz

Bayer 04 have two home games coming up. The Werkself first entertain AS Monaco in the first leg of the play-offs for the Round of 16 in the Europa League on Thursday 16 February at 21.00 CET. That is followed three days later by the Bundesliga game against Mainz 05. That match at the BayArena kicks off at 19.30 CET on Sunday 19 February.

Match stats

TSG Hoffenheim: Baumann – Kabak, Brooks, Nsoki – Akpoguma, Geiger (Dolberg 46’), Delaney (Tohumcu 64’), Angelino (Bischof 64’) – Baumgartner, Kramaric – Bebou (Asllani 74’)

Bayer 04: Hradecky – Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapie – Frimpong (Bellarabi 86’), Demirbay (Adli 81’), Andrich, Sinkgraven (Bakker 81’) – Wirtz – Hlozek (Amiri 73’), Diaby (Palacios 73’)

Goals: 0-1 Andrich (6’), 0-2 Diaby (46’), 0-3 Hlozek (56’), 1-3 Nsoki (77’)

Booked: Geiger, Brooks, Akpoguma – Frimpong

Referee: Tobias Stieler (Hamburg)

Attendance: 20,619 at the PreZero Arena