A third league draw in a row. Matchday 14 of the Bundesliga season saw Borussia Dortmund held to a 1-1 (0-0) draw by TSG Hoffenheim early on Sunday evening.

Boris Rupert reporting

Following a disappointing first half, BVB needed only 34 seconds of the second period to open the scoring through Giovanni Reyna. But they could not settle into their usual game in front of a sell-out crowd in the period that followed and conceded an equaliser through Jacob Bruun Larsen in stoppage time.

The scenario:

Borussia Dortmund had won five of their previous six Bundesliga matches against TSG Hoffenheim (home and away), but their head-to-head record in the previous six meetings with the Kraichgau club at SIGNAL IDUNA PARK was even (two victories, two draws and two defeats).

Personnel matters:

Nico Schlotterbeck placed himself at the team's disposal and played despite suffering an ankle injury on Wednesday. His central defensive team-mates Waldemar Anton and Niklas Süle were not available, however, while full-back Julian Ryerson and midfielder Julian Brandt were sidelined too. There were three changes compared to the match against Barcelona: Yan Couto, Pascal Groß and Maximilian Beier started in place of Ryerson, Marcel Sabitzer and Julien Duranville (both substitutes).

Tactics:

Hoffenheim opposed BVB with three lines when building the play, operated in a 4-3-3 formation when transitioning into defence and at times played an extremely high pressing game when Dortmund were still deep in their own half. The attacking ventures mostly came down the left flank via Prass and Kramaric. Groß and Reyna occupied the wide positions in midfield in Dortmund's 4-3-3 formation.

The match & analysis:

BVB had problems with their build-up play because they were too slow, too static and offered up hardly any moments of surprise – and when they did, they lacked precision. The Black & Yellows did create the first chance to score when Hoffenheim defender Nsoki directed a cross from Gittens towards his own goal in the fifth minute, but Baumann saved.

His opposite number Kobel did not need to make any serious interventions in the first half but there was far too much play in and around his box in general. Moerstedt's shot from a tight angle was not all that far away (7). The visitors registered four shooting attempts in the first half an hour, won more corners (4-0) and were stronger in the challenges (59%).

The danger was initially limited to a set-piece: Groß's sharp cross was put narrowly wide of the left upright by Schlotterbeck (23). Referee Osmers awarded a penalty eight minutes later: Guirassy made a strong turn 10 metres from goal in a central position and went down in a duel with Chaves. Osmers overturned his decision after reviewing the incident on the monitor. The holding probably was insufficient for a penalty.

The Black & Yellows brought on Adeyemi for Beier at the break and opened the scoring within 34 seconds of the restart. Gittens was set in motion by Bensebaini and crossed into the middle. Nsoki's headed clearance lacked precision and went straight to Reyna, who controlled the ball superbly with his chest with his first touch and then thundered into the net on the volley at 109km/h from 15 metres out. Two pieces of individual play from Adeyemi (51, 55) provided further danger in the period that followed, but Hoffenheim were also up against a defence that was anything but solid. Hlozek headed only narrowly over the bar (62).

BVB had hardly any control over the match and the opposition in this period. Counter-attacking opportunities were executed imprecisely. The game became a nail-bitter and did not have a happy ending. A throw-in from Gendrey was flicked on by Hlozek and Bruun Larsen fired in from very close range to make it 1-1 (90+2).

Outlook:

Borussia Dortmund will visit VfL Wolfsburg in the final match of the 2024 calendar year next Sunday (22/12 at 17:30 CET).