Andrej Kramarić’s Penalty Double Fuels Hoffenheim’s Champions League Push
SINSHEIM, Germany — Andrej Kramarić converted two penalties in Hoffenheim’s 3-1 win over Werder Bremen on April 5, 2025, propelling the Bundesliga side back into contention for a Champions League qualification spot. The Croatian striker’s composure from the spot underscored his growing influence as Hoffenheim’s most reliable goal source amid a turbulent stretch of form.
The victory moved Hoffenheim to 48 points from 28 matches, narrowing the gap to fourth-place Eintracht Frankfurt to just three points with six games remaining. Kramarić’s brace took his season tally to 18 Bundesliga goals, the highest single-season total of his seven-year Hoffenheim career and the most by any player at the club since Robert Lewandowski’s 2014-15 campaign.
Clinical Finish Under Pressure
Hoffenheim trailed 1-0 at the RheinEnergieSTADION after Marvin Ducksch’s 22nd-minute penalty for Bremen. But Kramarić restored parity just before halftime, coolly placing his 38th-minute spot-kick low to the left corner after Bremen’s Marco Friedl was adjudged to have handled the ball in the box.
The turning point came in the 67th minute when Hoffenheim’s Florian Grillitsch won a second penalty following a challenge by Bremen’s Jens Stage. Kramarić again stepped up, sending Pavlenka the wrong way with a composed finish to the right. His 17th and 18th league goals of the season completed a remarkable individual turnaround after a scoreless run in February and early March.
“He’s ice-cold in those moments,” said Hoffenheim head coach Pellegrino Matarazzo in his post-match press conference. “When we necessitate a goal, he’s the guy we trust. Two penalties, two goals — that’s leadership.”
Historical Context and Career Milestone
Kramarić’s 18 goals this season surpass his previous best of 15, set in the 2021-22 campaign. Only three players in Hoffenheim’s Bundesliga history have scored more in a single season: Lewandowski (22 in 2011-12 and 2014-15), Sebastien Haller (19 in 2016-17), and now Kramarić.
The 28-year-old forward, who joined Hoffenheim from Dinamo Zagreb in January 2017 for a reported €9 million fee, has now scored 88 Bundesliga goals for the club — second only to Sven Schipplock’s 92 in Hoffenheim’s all-time list. His penalty conversion rate this season stands at 80% (4/5), with both misses coming earlier in the campaign against Borussia Mönchengladbach and Bayer Leverkusen.
Tactical Role and Team Impact
Kramarić has operated as Hoffenheim’s primary striker this season, often dropping deep to link play or drifting wide to create space for advancing fullbacks. His 18 goals have arrive alongside 6 assists, making him directly involved in 24 of Hoffenheim’s 52 league goals this season — a 46% involvement rate.
His partnership with attacking midfielder Christoph Baumgartner has been particularly fruitful, with the duo combining for 9 goals and 5 assists in their last 10 league matches together. Baumgartner provided the assist for Hoffenheim’s third goal in the Bremen game, a 79th-minute header from Kevin Akpoguma that sealed the win.
Champions League Implications
Hoffenheim’s win kept them within striking distance of the top four, with Eintracht Frankfurt (51 points), RB Leipzig (50), and Borussia Dortmund (49) all separated by just three points. The race for Champions League qualification has tightened significantly after Bayern Munich’s 1-0 loss to Mainz earlier the same day, which dropped the record champions to fifth place with 47 points.
Under the current UEFA coefficient rankings, Germany is allocated four direct Champions League group stage spots for the 2025-26 season, meaning fourth place in the Bundesliga guarantees qualification.
Injury Updates and Squad News
Hoffenheim will be without suspended defender Kevin Vogt for their next match against Augsburg on April 12 due to accumulating his fifth yellow card of the season. Midfielder Diadie Samassékou remains out with a hamstring injury sustained in training on March 28, while striker Ishak Belfodil returned to full training this week after recovering from an ankle problem.
Bremen, meanwhile, confirmed that Ducksch will miss the next three to four weeks with a thigh strain sustained during his penalty kick, a significant blow to their relegation battle hopes.
What’s Next
Hoffenheim hosts FC Augsburg at the PreZero Arena on April 12, 2025, at 15:30 CEST (13:30 UTC). Augsburg currently sits 11th with 34 points and has won just one of its last five matches. A win would move Hoffenheim to within one point of fourth place with five games remaining.
The club’s official website lists ticket sales for the Augsburg match as open, with prices ranging from €22 for standing terraces to €55 for premium seating. Live coverage will be available on Sky Sport Bundesliga in Germany and via ESPN+ internationally.
As the Bundesliga season enters its decisive phase, Kramarić’s ability to deliver in high-pressure moments has become Hoffenheim’s most valuable asset. His penalty double against Bremen wasn’t just a return to form — it was a statement of intent in the fight for Europe’s elite club competition.
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