TNT Sports
Hoffenheim 0-1 Borussia Dortmund: Julian Brandt goal the difference as visitors go top of Bundesliga
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Published 25/02/2023 at 14:41 GMT
A first half goal from Julian Brandt saw Borussia Dortmund produce a 1-0 win over Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga. The result means Dortmund go top of the table on 46 points; Three clear of defending champions Bayern Munich and this season's surprise package Union Berlin. Bayern host Union Berlin in a potential season-defining clash on Sunday afternoon.
Dortmund's players celebrate German midfielder Julian Brandt for scoring the opening 0-1 goal during the German first division Bundesliga football match between TSG 1899 Hoffenheim and BVB Borussia Dortmund in Sinsheim, southwestern Germany, on February 2
Image credit: TNT Sports
Borussia Dortmund beat Hoffenheim 1-0 in a seventh successive league victory to go three points clear at the top of the Bundesliga table.
Julian Brandt scored the only goal of the game as he turned a Marco Reus cross in with his back minutes before half-time.
Hoffenheim had the first big opportunity to go ahead when Christoph Baumgartner’s header was stopped by Gregor Kobel, who then reacted quickly to get to his feet and keep out Ozan Kabak’s follow-up with a tip over the bar.
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Dortmund quickly started to dominate the game after a flurry of half chances for Hoffenheim and threatened mostly through frontman Sebastien Haller, who had a fierce shot turned behind by Oliver Baumann.
Haller was denied again almost instantly from close range as Baumann was once again called into action and produce a top-class save to keep the score level.
Dortmund continued to threaten and did eventually get the better of Baumann when Brandt turned into a Reus free-kick off his back two minutes before the break.
Early into the second half, Hoffenheim were awarded a free kick on the edge of the box but referee Martin Petersen was advised by VAR to check the pitchside monitor for a penalty.
He decided not to give a penalty, and subsequently, the hosts had their free-kick rescinded, with more VAR controversy moments later when Marius Wolf thought he had put Dortmund 2-0 up.
However, replays showed a foul from Nico Schlotterbeck as he clipped Ihlas Bebou in the build-up, and the goal was ruled out.
The win lifts Dortmund above Bayern Munich at the top of the table, while Hoffenheim - who suffered their fifth consecutive league defeat - drop into the relegation zone.
TALKING PONT - DORTMUND GO THREE POINTS CLEAR
Could it finally be Marco Reus and Borussia Dortmund’s year? They have taken their golden opportunity to go three points clear at the top of the Bundesliga, leapfrogging Bayern Munich in the process.
The win against Hoffenheim is their ninth straight win in all competitions in 2023 - the first time in their history they have won the first nine games of a calendar year - and they remain the only side in Europe to win every competitive game this year.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH - MARCO REUS (DORTMUND)
Julian Brandt may have stolen the headlines with his goal, but it was Marco Reus who was pulling the strings throughout the game. The midfielder created six chances in the game, more than any other player on the pitch, and was the most fouled (2), as he continued to trouble the Hoffenheim defence throughout.
He played a big part in the goal too, firing the free-kick across the face of goal, which helped the odd touch off Brandt's back find the net.
MATCH RATINGS
HOFFENHEIM: Baumann 8, Kaderabek 7, Akpoguma 7, Kabak 7, Angelino 7, Baumgartner 8, Rudy 6, Tohumcu 6, Vogt 6, Kramaric 7, Bebou 6
Subs: Bicakic 6, Stiller 6, Dolberg 6, Asllani 6
DORTMUND: Kobel 7, Schlotterbeck 8, Sule 7, Guerreiro 8, Wolf 8, Brandt 8, Bellingham 7, Can 8, Bynoe-Gittens 6, Reus 8, Haller 6
Subs: Ozcan 6, Hummels 6,Malen 5
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
15’ - HOW HAVE HOFFENHEIM NOT SCORED?! Baumgartner is free in the box and heads the ball towards goal, but in a scrappy effort to keep the ball out, Gregor Kobel gets a hand to it and manages to keep it from crossing the line.
33’ - BIG SAVE BAUMANN TO DENY HALLER! The goalkeeper gets a really strong hand to Haller's fierce shot.
34’ - HALLER DENIED AGAIN! Baumann keeps him out again, this time a header from close range! Dortmund are knocking on the door.
43’ - GOAL! HOFFENHEIM 0-1 DORTMUND (BRANDT) - Reus fires in the free-kick from a wide angle and as Brandt tries to bend forward and guide the ball towards goal with his head, catches it with his back and there's nothing Baumann can do this time to keep the ball out.
51’ - VAR CHECK FOR A HOFFENHEM PENALTY! Can fouls Kevin Akpoguma right on the edge of the box, and as Hoffenheim set themselves up for the free-kick, the referee has been sent over to the monitor to have a check. Check over - no penalty, and Hoffenheim won’t get the free-kick either.
55’ - GOAL! HOFFENHEIM 0-2 DORTMUND (WOLF) - Wolf hammers a strike past Baumann at the near post to double Dortmund's lead!
58’ - VAR CHECK - NO GOAL - It seems there was a foul in the build-up from Schlotterbeck as he clipped Bebou.
KEY STAT
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