The run of success for Bayern's runners-up RB Leipzig has come to an end. After eight unbeaten Bundesliga games, coach Ole Werner's side conceded a 3-1 (1-2) defeat at a strong TSG 1899 Hoffenheim. However, the Kraichgauers' fourth win in a row was overshadowed by the open power struggle in the management team.
RB discovery Diomande scores again
Top talent Yan Diomande had put the Saxons ahead early on (9th minute). Nevertheless, Leipzig were beaten for the first time since the 6-0 opening defeat in Munich. Albian Hajdari (20') and Tim Lemperle (38') turned the game in Hoffenheim's favor before the break, who followed up a counter-attack by Grischa Prömel (79').
In front of 26,251 spectators in the Sinsheim stadium, the TSG fans put up a more visible fight than ever against Dietmar Hopp's intimate Roger Wittmann. Numerous protest posters against the player consultant were displayed in the south curve. The 85-year-old patron Hopp had to watch from his box seat.
Numerous protests by TSG fans
Last week, the disputes between the club and Wittmann, which have already gone to court, cost managing directors Markus Schütz and Frank Briel their jobs at TSG. The Hoffenheim management wanted to minimize the strong influence of the player agent.
An ultra group had distributed flyers around the arena with a fake wanted poster for Wittmann. TSG did not want to comment on this for the time being. "Roger Wittmann, get the fuck out of our club" was the message on a large banner.
"Der Unbeliebtico" as a lively match
The hosts had self-ironically advertised the match against Leipzig with the title "Der Unbeliebtico" - alluding to the two clubs that are not exactly popular in the German fan scene. Hoffenheim were caught off guard by a lightning attack from RB after less than ten minutes in the fast-paced game: 18-year-old Diomande left his opponent Bernardo unmarked and shot in to make it 1-0.
The Côte d'Ivoire international thus caught the eye once again: the attacker had recently scored a goal and an assist in the 3-1 win over VfB Stuttgart and a goal and two assists in the 6-0 win in Augsburg.
Prömel made the difference
Hoffenheim did not back down and took advantage of a moment of inattention from Leipzig: Wouter Burger laid on a long cross from Bazoumana Touré for Hajdari and the central defender dusted off the ball to equalize. Flank specialist Vladimir Coufal then set up the 2:1, Lemperle headed in unchallenged.
Leipzig started the second half with a shot off the post from ex-Hoffenheimer David Raum - but Prömel scored the decisive goal.
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