FC Bayern Munich only ended the Bundesliga season in third place after a defeat in Hoffenheim. In Thomas Tuchel’s last game, European Championship driver Aleksandar Pavlovic had to leave the field injured – but has since given the all-clear.
In Bayern’s 2:4 (2:1) defeat at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, Hoffenheim’s top scorer Andrej Kramaric turned the game around with three goals in the second half (68th minute, 85th, 87th). The first three goals came early and within six minutes. Mathys Tel (4th) and Alphonso Davies (6th) ensured a double strike for Munich, while Maximilian Beier (8th) shortened the score after a mistake by Manuel Neuer.
After the first titleless season since 2012, Tuchel said goodbye with another disappointment, VfB Stuttgart stole the unofficial runner-up title from Munich with a 4-0 win against Borussia Mönchengladbach. “It’s a bad ending,” Tuchel told Sportschau. “After a very good start with two goals, we completely gave up the game. That has happened to us far too often.”
Ann-Kathrin Rose, sports show, May 18, 2024 6:15 p.m
De Zerbi leaves Brighton for Munich?
Meanwhile, there could be new movement in the search for a new Bayern coach, because during the game the English first division club Brighton & Hove Albion announced that they were separating from coach Roberto De Zerbi. The Italian is considered a candidate in Munich. However, sports director Max Eberl, when asked about De Zerbi’s departure from Brighton, said: “It doesn’t mean anything for us.”
Sports show, May 18, 2024 6:15 p.m
In view of the difficult search for a trainer with many rejections, Eberl was self-critical. “I’m most dissatisfied that it hasn’t worked out the way we imagined. Various reasons contributed to this.”
He left it open as to what would happen next for Tuchel after his final departure from Munich. “We haven’t spoken to anyone, we haven’t made any other plans. Last week there was even another conversation with Bayern. Now we’ll sleep in a few times and let it sink in before we think about what happens next. “
Tel replaces Kane at Bayern and scores
Bayern started in Sinsheim without numerous stars, including the recently injured national players Jamal Musiala and Leroy Sané. Harry Kane was abroad due to back problems and, without any further action, secured himself the top scorer with 36 goals.
Alphonso Davies initiated Bayern’s early lead with a strong start and a cross to the back post. Thomas Müller passed the volley back in front of the goal, where Kane’s replacement Tel held his head. Müller made his 473rd appearance for FCB in a Bundesliga game, drawing level with Bayern’s record player Sepp Maier.
New guy with a bad pass
Tel had already missed a great chance and was also involved in the second goal. The attacker played into the path of Davies, who hit the ball flat into the right corner.
Patrick Stricker, Sportschau, May 18, 2024 5:39 p.m
Just a few moments later, Neuer invited Hoffenheim to score again. Germany’s number one played a major bad pass in his own penalty area. Andrej Kramaric stumbled, but then set up the goal for Beier.
Munich’s Pavlovic limps off the field, but gives the all-clear
As a result, both defensive lines allowed good chances, but no goals were scored at first. In the 34th minute, Tuchel had to make a substitution and Pavlovic limped off the pitch. “It’s an ankle injury,” said Tuchel after the game. The 19-year-old Croatian Lovro Zvonarek came into the game for Pavlovic.
However, the future FC Bayern international signaled on Sunday with a view to the European Championships that his ankle injury was not as bad as feared. “Nene, everything is fine,” he said to “Bild” before an internal graduation ceremony.
Hoffenheim kept the game open and didn’t get an undeserved equalizer in the second half. Kramaric used an assist from Ihlas Bebou from close range. In the final phase, Kramaric struck twice, creating a flawless hat trick.
Hoffenheim plays internationally
“You score four goals against Bayern Munich here at home in front of a sold-out crowd, you qualify for Europe – that’s a great moment and associated with extreme emotions,” TSG coach Pellegrino Matarazzo told Sportschau. “The way we turned the game around is emblematic of our entire season with ups and downs, with a lot of resistance, in which we always got up. That’s a great end.”
Ann-Kathrin Rose, Sportschau, May 18, 2024 6:39 p.m
After the final whistle, the Hoffenheim team were still eagerly awaiting the outcome of the game between Eintracht Frankfurt and RB Leipzig. If Eintracht had conceded another goal, TSG would have climbed to sixth place with a chance of a place in the Champions League.
However, Frankfurt held the score 2-2, so Hoffenheim ended the season in seventh place. This entitles you to start in the Conference League and, if Bayer Leverkusen wins the cup, even to a place in the Europa League.
2024-05-20 00:22:42
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