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Matchday 33: “Explosion of relief”: TSG celebrates staying in the class

Matchday 33: “Explosion of relief”: TSG celebrates staying in the class

TSG Hoffenheim saves an explosive relegation final at VfB Stuttgart. Despite the defeat, Union Berlin can still reach the Champions League on their own.

Coach Pellegrino Matarazzo and double goalscorer Andrej Kramaric could hardly save themselves from the hugs of the rushing fans.

On the penultimate day of the Bundesliga, TSG 1899 Hoffenheim secured relegation with a 4-2 (2-1) win over 1. FC Union Berlin – a happy ending after a disappointing round for the former European Cup aspirant. “That was the toughest season I’ve ever played – especially mentally,” said a visibly upset but also relieved Kramaric.

With his number eleven and twelve goals this season, the World Cup runner-up in 2018 and third in the 2022 World Cup played a large part in the important home win. In front of 30,150 spectators in the sold-out Sinsheim stadium, the 31-year-old Croatian scored a penalty kick (36th minute) and made it 3-1 (90th). Ihlas Bebou (22nd) and Munas Dabbur (90+9) scored the other goals for the Matarazzo team.

Severe damper for Union

Union’s Portuguese defender Diogo Leite was instrumental in the first two goals – with an unsuccessful header defense and the foul on Christoph Baumgartner for a penalty. Danilho Doekhi (45+4) and Aissa Laidouni (90+5) scored for the visitors. The Köpenicker suffered a severe setback in the fight for the Champions League, but are fourth in the table in the last home game against Werder Bremen. “We have it in our own hands,” said Rani Khedira and complained: “We almost gave the first half away.”

While the Berliners trotted disappointedly into the guest curve, all dams broke at Hoffenheim when supporters ran out of the south curve onto the lawn. “When the pressure is highest, you can celebrate the greatest emotions. When the fans rush onto the pitch and the players and coaches celebrate, it’s good for the heart,” said Matarazzo. André Breitenreiter’s successor had started his mission in the Kraichgau with five defeats in a row.

“It was an explosion of relief,” said sports director Alexander Rosen about the scenes after the final whistle. Hoffenheim is now spared an explosive final in the relegation battle: TSG has to go to Matarazzo’s former club VfB Stuttgart on matchday 34, which in turn is coached by former Hoffenheim head coach Sebastian Hoeneß.

Prömel: “Huge load dropped”

“I can very well do without a highly emotional endgame,” Rosen had emphasized before the kick-off in the Sky interview. After that, a lot of pressure fell off him. “We are now entering our 16th year in the Bundesliga, which is simply an outstanding achievement for this location,” said the 44-year-old despite many setbacks this season.

Grischa Prömel, who had been injured for a long time and was promoted to the upper house with Union in 2019, also cheered with the fans. “You could tell that the whole stadium was under a lot of weight. Many people thought we were beaten, but we fought our way back,” said the midfielder.

Source: Stern

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