2021 European Apertura Top 25 (5 of 25)

Hoffenheim were on a 9-game unbeaten run stretching back into the previous season, and can boast an excellent record visiting the Westfalenstadion (Signal Iduna Park). Dortmund, by contrast, seemed to still be finding their feet under new manager Marco Rose. Following a commanding 5-2 win over Eintracht Frankfurt in the opening game, they had lost to both Bayern Munich in the DFL-Super Cup and to SC Freiberg in the league.

Hoffenheim’s Andrej Kramarić managed to head one onto the post early on in a scoreless but intense opening half. Early in the second, Giovanni Reyna scored an opener for Dortmund from the top of the box. Just past the hour mark, however, Dennis Geiger slipped Christoph Baumgartner in on the right for a deserved equalizer for Hoffenheim. Jude Bellingham answered back with just over 20’ remaining, capitalizing on a poorly attempted clearance to put Dortmund back up.

Hoffenheim responded with a Kramarić free kick that Gregor Kobel just tipped over the crossbar; but right at the end of regulation, late substitute Mu’nas Dabbur scored off a corner kick headed on by Kevin Agkopuma, once again drawing Hoffenheim level. That left stoppage time, where Erling Haaland (who has officially changed his name from Håland) put a cross into the box from the left, only to find the ball back at his feet at the left post following a double save by Oliver Baumann. The Norwegian superstar roofed a late game-winner for his erratic-but-entertaining side.

Hoffenheim would recover from the loss, with a particularly strong spell after the November international break allowing them to finish the hinrunde (or first half of the season) in 5^thplace. Rose’s Dortmund would continue to entertain. Tactical Analysis from: Between the Posts.