TSG 1899 Hoffenheim handed Bayer Leverkusen a 3-0 defeat on a rainy afternoon at the Sinsheim arena, halting the reigning champions’ momentum while reaching a milestone 1,000th Bundesliga goal. The match turned chaotic in the closing moments when Hoffenheim midfielder Alexander Prass was sent off after stripping off his jersey during a goal celebration.
Alexander Prass Sent Off After Stripping Jersey
The match was already winding down in the 89th minute when Alexander Prass scored Hoffenheim’s second goal to solidify their late advantage. Caught up in the moment, Prass ripped off his shirt to celebrate, drawing an immediate yellow card from the officiating crew. Because he had already been booked earlier in the match, the yellow turned instantly to red. Realizing his mistake just seconds after pulling the jersey off, Prass stopped celebrating and tried frantically to pull the shirt back on, but the fourth official enforced the dismissal.
Andrej Kramaric and Max Moerstedt Seal Historic Win
Before the late-game disciplinary drama, Hoffenheim broke open a scoreless defensive stalemate in the 79th minute. Substitute Andrej Kramaric converted a penalty kick following a foul inside the box, securing the club’s 1,000th goal in the German top flight. Ten minutes later, Prass netted before Max Moerstedt added a third in the sixth minute of stoppage time. The 3-0 scoreline handed Leverkusen and star striker Patrik Schick their first shutout loss of the Bundesliga campaign in front of 27,378 spectators.
Daniel Siebert Injury Forces Unusual Referee Substitution
The fixture in Sinsheim featured an unusual personnel change at halftime when referee Daniel Siebert was forced to withdraw due to a calf injury. Robert Hartmann took over the whistle for the second half after DAZN reported that Siebert could no longer continue. During the break, Siebert consulted with Lutz Wagner, the German Football Association’s head of referee training, and spoke briefly with Leverkusen’s Robert Andrich before taking up his new role as the fourth official on the sideline. The administrative discussions delayed the start of the second half by nearly five minutes.
Loic Badé Exits After Midfield Collision
The physical intensity of the fixture also produced a concerning injury in the second half when Hoffenheim’s Max Moerstedt and Leverkusen defender Loic Badé collided heavily head-to-head near the center circle. Both players dropped instantly to the turf and required lengthy medical attention. While Moerstedt eventually recovered and remained on the pitch to score the final goal in stoppage time, a dazed Badé was fitted to a stretcher and carried off the field.
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