TSG Hoffenheim started the Europa League season with a win. In the home game against Red Star Belgrade, the Bundesliga team prevailed 2-0 (0-0). Midfield talent Christoph Baumgartner scored the opening goal on his European Cup debut (64th minute), Munas Dabbur increased shortly before the end (90th + 3).
In the first half, Sebastian Hoeneß’s team struggled for a long time to create real scoring opportunities. TSG had a lot more possession of the ball than Red Star, and central defender Kevin Vogt was given a lot of freedom in building up. Without the top scorer Andrej Kramaric, who was still missing due to a positive Corona test, the ideas were often missing in the attacking third. The best opportunity came shortly before the break for striker Dabbur, who hit the post before the former 1860 Munich professional Milos Degenek slipped the ball out of the danger zone (45th).
During the break, Hoeneß switched, Diadie Samassekou and Dennis Geiger replaced Florian Grillitsch and Mijat Gacinovic. Shortly after the restart, however, Hoffenheim was initially lucky that the Belgrade central defender Strahinja Erakovic was offside when he hit Oliver Baumann’s goal after a free kick (46.).
Then, after Kevin Akpoguma won the ball, TSG had space to counterattack – and took advantage of it carefully: Baumgartner volleyed a fine cross from Sebastian Rudy into the goal (64th). Red Star coach Dejan Stankovic then saw yellow-red because he was too upset about Akpoguma’s entry into goal creation. Sekou Sanogo had the best chance of equalizing with two headers from corner kicks (69th, 73rd). Hoffenheim’s Dabbur scored the goal after a pass from Samassekou (90 + 3).
Spurs and Milan sovereign
Beyond Sinsheim, the co-favorites were harmed by winning the tournament. Tottenham Hotspur defeated ASK from Linz 3-0. Lucas Moura hit the lead early on (18th), Linz’s Andrés Andrade grabbed a cross from Gareth Bale on his starting XI debut after his return to Spurs over his own goal line (27th). Son Heung-min achieved the final score from eight meters in the final phase (84th).
In the duel between the traditional clubs, AC Milan prevailed against Celtic Glasgow. In the 3-1 victory in Scotland, Rade Krunic headed a cross from Samu Castillejo into the net (14th), Brahim Diaz increased against an overburdened Celtic defense with a right-footed shot before the break (42nd). After the break, Mohamed Elyounoussi only managed to head after a corner kick (76th), Elyounoussi’s Norwegian compatriot Jens Petter Hauge made the decision late (90th + 1).
