M. Gräfe
90'
+ 8
FULL TIME! FRANKFURT 3-2 HOFFENHEIM
Just your average Saturday afternoon five-goal thriller in the Bundesliga! The two sides traded blows in an open second half, with Rebic deflecting in Kostic's free-kick before Szalai teed up Joelinton for 1-1. Hoffenheim were on top after the break, deservedly going ahead through Belfodil, but Adams' dismissal changed the game. Frankfurt left it late but finally snatched a stunning win thanks to late goals from Haller and Paciencia. Phew!
Full-time
90'
+ 8
SECOND HALF UNDERWAY
Hoffenheim get the ball rolling again in Frankfurt. We've had one change at half-time - Bundesliga top scorer Luka Jovic is on for Rebic.
90'
+ 7
PACIENCIA OPENS HIS ACCOUNT IN STYLE
Wow wow wow. Would you believe it! Haller finds himself in far too much space again in the TSG area, and clips a lovely cross to the back post, where Goncalo Paciencia gets above Joelinton to head in his first Bundesliga goal. It's all over at the Commerzbank-Arena - what a game!
90'
+ 6
PACIENCIA SCORES!!
Unbelievable scenes! Frankfurt have snatched it at the death!
90'
+ 5
ONE MINUTE...
Willems' free-kick fails to beat the first man, then his cross from a Hasebe pass is straight to Baumann. 30 seconds...
90'
+ 3
AMADE!
That would have been some story. The debutant gets on the end of Kramaric's cross but his header is just wide. Two minutes remain - Frankfurt free-kick.
90'
+ 2
PACIENCIA!
The Portuguese sub finds himself in a shooting position but blazes his effort over. Three minutes and counting for Frankfurt.
89'
HALLER BRINGS FRANKFURT LEVEL!
Gacinovic crosses in from the left and it's such a simple header for the Frenchman, who is completely unmarked about eight yards out - he nods in his 12th league goal of the campaign. Can Frankfurt snatch a winner? SIX minutes of time added on.
87'
KRAMARIC OVER THE BAR!
Another rare chance for Hoffenheim as Nelson tees up Kramaric. The Croatia striker goes it alone - even thought Szalai was screaming for the pass - and rifles his shot over the bar.
86'
HOW'S HE MISSED THAT?!
Kostic sends a brilliant ball across to the back post for Gacinovic, who somehow fails to hit the target from point-blank range. That should have been 2-2.
83'
STUNNING SAVE FROM BAUMANN!
The Hoffenheim captain produces a world-class save to keep out Hasebe's stinging drive from the edge of the area. Nagelsmann's men are determined to hang on to those three points!
82'
Substitution
81'
AMIRI RECEIVING TREATMENT
And the Commerzbank-Arena isn't happy about it... the game has been held up for at least two or three minutes. The referee assures the Frankfurt players that he will take that into account when we get to stoppage time. Amade comes on for his Bundesliga debut in place of Amiri.
80'
Substitution
78'
REISS NELSON ON FOR BELFODIL
The young Englishman replaces Belfodil, whose goal could give Hoffenheim all three points tonight. Nelson's pace will be handy on the counter in the last 10 minutes or so.
78'
Substitution
76'
SZALAI AGAIN!
The Hungarian has been a real handful since he came on, and almost pokes a third Hoffenheim goal past Trapp after a ball across from Schulz. Frankfurt still dominating but they can't find a way past a well-marshalled TSG defence.
73'
TSG, WOODWORK SPECIALISTS
A curious stat I saw go by earlier - Hoffenheim have now hit the woodwork 17 times this season (after Szalai rattled the bar) - more than any other Bundesliga team.
70'
TACTICAL TWEAK FOR EINTRACHT
Jetro Willems has come on for Toure, with Frankfurt switching to four at the back as they look to salvage something from the game. It's one-way traffic at the moment.
70'
JOVIC AGAIN!
That red card has - as you would imagine - rather changed the complexion of this game. In comes a ball for Luka Jovic, but his powerful header is straight at Baumann.
69'
Substitution
66'
GREAT SAVE BAUMANN!
Kostic takes the resulting free-kick, curling it towards the top corner, but Baumann does brilliantly to claw it away. He had Kramaric in support on the line just in case.
65'
RED CARD FOR ADAMS!
Another twist in the tale! Adams is shown a second yellow card after bringing down a charging Haller, and Hoffenheim are down to 10 men for the last 25 minutes.
60'
NOT LONG AT ALL!
Hoffenheim have the lead through Ishak Belfodil. The referee allows play to continue after a heavy tackle from Rode on Joelinton, and the visitors take full advantage. A long ball out to the left for Belfodil, who controls brilliantly, cuts inside and fires through Da Costa's legs for 2-1.
59'
CHANCES GALORE
It almost feels as if there is no midfield in this game any more - both sides are sweeping backwards and forwards in waves. How long until we get a third goal?
57'
FIRST CHANCE FOR JOVIC!
From out on the left, Kostic does really well to whip a dangerous ball to the back post where Jovic is lurking behind a defender... The Serb gets his header on target, but it's not powerful enough to trouble Baumann.
55'
SZALAI!
An absolute missile from Adam Szalai rattles back off the crossbar - Trapp was well beaten. He hit that beautifully. Hoffenheim are enjoying a good spell here, as Amiri sees another low drive gathered by the Frankfurt keeper.
50'
LIVELY START!
We've picked up where we left off at the Commerzbank-Arena, with three chances in quick succession. Schulz and Kostic both send in teasing crosses from the left, one at either end, before Trapp denies Szalai at the near post. Expect more goals here!
47'
LET-OFF FOR HOFFENHEIM
A mistake from the visitors allows Gacinovic to come striding forward for Frankfurt - he has plenty of teammates in support but runs into traffic, and Hoffenheim get the danger clear.
46'
Substitution
Kick-off!
Half-time
45'
+ 4
PENALTY SHOUT FOR FRANKFURT
Haller goes down in the Hoffenheim penalty area after a fairly robust shoulder barge from Brenet, but the referee is unmoved and waves play on.
45'
JOELINTON CHASING KRAMARIC
After scoring with his first shot of today's game, the Brazilian is now up to seven Bundesliga goals for the season, three behind TSG's top scorer Kramaric. The two men have both had a hand in 12 goals (five assists for Joelinton, two for Kramaric).
45'
HALF-TIME! FRANKFURT 1-1 HOFFENHEIM
A thoroughly entertaining half of football. Frankfurt deservedly took the lead after a strong start, even if Ante Rebic had little notion that he was heading in Filip Kostic's free-kick on 20 minutes. Hoffenheim offered very little until two minutes before the break, when substitute Adam Szalai backheeled a brilliant ball into the path of Joelinton for 1-1. Game on!
43'
TSG LEVEL!
That's brilliant! What was I just saying about Hoffenheim's lack of cutting edge - one well-worked move and they are back on level terms. Brenet crosses in from the right, and substitute Szalai flicks it to the back post with a glorious backheel that completely wrongfoots Trapp - Joelinton simply has to sweep into an empty net.
40'
HOFFENHEIM LACKING BITE
Hoffenheim have managed to get the ball up and around the Frankfurt area a few times, but they're lacking end product. Grillitsch tries his luck but his deflected effort is easily captured by Trapp, before Schulz drags an effort well wide.
38'
DEMIRBAY OFF
Nagelsmann has decided he's taking no risks with Kerem Demiraby after he picked up that knock earlier - the midfielder is hooked and on comes Adam Szalai.
37'
Substitution
37'
FRANKFURT GETTING CLOSE TO A SECOND!
Brilliant work from Rode to intercept a pass from Brenet and sweep out to Kostic on the left, but the Serbian's cross for Haller is cut out by Adams, who is having a good game so far. A minute or so later, Rode springs forward and plays a neat one-two, but his shot isn't enough to trouble Baumann.
33'
REBIC INJURED?
The goalscorer has gone down clutching his right knee... He steps off the pitch for a minute but it looks like he's OK to carry on for now.
30'
REBIC ON FIRE
Ante Rebic has now scored more goals for Frankfurt in the Bundesliga this term (9) than in his first two seasons combined (8).
25'
END-TO-END STUFF!
You can't take your eyes off this game at the moment. Hoffenheim hit on the counter with Brenet, but he really should do better with three men in support and the move breaks down. Kostic then comes racing up the other end and slips through to Haller, but his cross for Rebic is cut out. Demirbay has received a knock but it looks like he'll be OK to carry on - Adam Szalai had been getting ready to come on.
22'
TSG LOOK TO HIT BACK
A decent ball forward from Brenet for another Croatia international, Hoffenheim's Andrej Kramaric. He pushes the ball beyond Kevin Trapp but can't prevent it rolling out of play.
20'
AND IT'S IN!
A healthy slice of good fortune for Frankfurt here. Rebic splits away from the wall and Kostic's free-kick ricochets off his head and into the back of the net. The Croatian knew nothing about it but Frankfurt are in front!
18'
ANOTHER DANGEROUS FREE-KICK...
Danny Da Costa is brought down just outside the area - Kostic is lining it up...
16'
CLOSE!
Adams scythes down Rebic just outside the area and gets the game's first yellow card for his troubles. In comes the free-kick, which N'Dicka nods just wide!
12'
LATEST
A good tempo so far with Frankfurt probably just about edging it - although Hoffenheim are growing into the game. Neither keeper has yet to be tested.
8'
CLOSE FOR FRANKFURT!
A long ball out to the left is brilliantly controlled by Kostic, but the Serb can't quite pick out Haller in the middle and the ball sails harmlessly across the Hoffenheim penalty area. It's been a lively start!
7'
FIRST CHANCE FOR TSG
Demirbay whips in the game's first corner for Hoffenheim and Belfodil heads it just wide - although he didn't seem to know too much about it.
2'
POSITIVE START FROM FRANKFURT
The hosts have decided to press Hoffenheim high up the pitch, and they've already nicked possession off them a few times.
1'
KICK-OFF!
Frankfurt get us underway. Can they move six points clear of Hoffenheim today?
Kick-off!
PLAYERS ON THE PITCH!
Both sets of players exchange warm words in the tunnel before making their way out onto the Commerzbank-Arena pitch. There's a wonderful atmosphere here in Frankfurt today - let's hope the football can match it!
10 MINUTES TO GO!
It promises to be a thrilling encounter between two of the Bundesliga's European hopefuls - so sit back and enjoy!
BUNDESLIGA NEWBIES?
Nagelsmann's various injury woes (see below) mean that he has had to put three reserve players on the bench today - right-back Alfons Amade (19), centre-back Moody Chana (20) and striker Nicolas Wähling (21), all of whom could make their Bundesliga debuts against Frankfurt.
ALSO ONE CHANGE FOR HOFFENHEIM
Julian Nagelsmann has also opted for just one change after the 1-1 draw at his future club RB Leipzig, and he had no choice with this one: out goes the suspended Pavel Kaderabek, in comes Joshua Brenet for his seventh league start of the season.
ONE CHANGE FOR FRANKFURT
Adi Hütter has only made one change from last weekend's comfortable win in Hannover, with Bundesliga top scorer Luka Jovic dropping to the bench and fellow Serb Mijat Gacinovic coming into the line-up. Does the Austrian tactician have one eye on Thursday's Europa League game against Inter Milan?
HOFFENHEIM SUBS
Stolz, Nelson, Otto, Szalai, Amande, Wähling, Chana
FRANKFURT SUBS
Rönnow, Falette, De Guzman, Jovic, Willems, Russ, Paciencia
HOFFENHEIM STARTING XI
Baumann (c) – Brenet, Adams, Posch, Schulz – Amiri, Grillitsch, Demirbay – Kramaric – Belfodil, Joelinton
FRANKFURT STARTING XI - JOVIC ON THE BENCH!
Trapp – Toure, Hinteregger, N'Dicka – Da Costa, Rode, Hasebe (c), Kostic – Gacinovic – Haller, Rebic
FRANKFURT SEEKING HOME BOOST
The Eagles have only won one of their last four Bundesliga outings at the Commerzbank-Arena, having played out 1-1 draws with Dortmund and Gladbach following a 3-0 loss to Bayern and a 3-1 victory over Freiburg. Can they pick up a sixth home win in 12 today and do the double over Hoffenheim?
TWO HOURS UNTIL KICK-OFF!
The clock is ticking down to this afternoon's highly anticipated clash between Frankfurt and Hoffenheim - we should have confirmed teams for you within the hour!
INTER UP NEXT FOR FRANKFURT
Hoffenheim's European campaign may have come to an end before Christmas, but Frankfurt are still going strong in the Europa League, and host Inter Milan in the first leg of the last 16 on Thursday. The Eagles are the top-scoring team in the competition this season (23 goals), and have yet to taste defeat (W7 D1). "We're pleased to have been handed such an attractive tie," said Adi Hütter after last month's draw. "It's a super stadium and a super club. It'll be important to keep a clean sheet in the first leg."
HOFFENHEIM, THE BUNDESLIGA’S DRAW SPECIALISTS
"I only want to win," Julian Nagelsmann insisted back in November, when asked why he hadn't looked to protect a draw in Hoffenheim's Champions League clash with Shakhtar Donetsk (the Ukrainians scored a 92nd-minute winner to knock 10-man TSG out). "All of these draws are getting on my nerves. I want to win every bloody game!" But try as they might, Nagelsmann's side have played out no fewer than eight stalemates in the Bundesliga since then, taking their tally to a league-high 10 draws.
GAME #20 IN THE BUNDESLIGA
This will be the 20th meeting between Frankfurt and Hoffenheim in the German top flight, and so far the Sinsheimers have had the better of their head-to-head. Even if they lost the most recent clash in October, TSG have won eight of their 19 previous encounters with the Eagles, compared to just four for Frankfurt. There have also been seven draws, including the last outing between the two sides at the Commerzbank-Arena in April 2018 (1-1).
PREVIOUS MEETING: HOFFENHEIM 1-2 FRANKFURT
The two sides had an identical record when they went head-to-head on Matchday 7, right down to the number of goals scored and conceded! Hoffenheim hit the bar twice in the first half, but it was Frankfurt who went ahead against the run of play, with Rebic clipping a delightful lob over Oliver Baumann. Having set up the opener, Jovic doubled the visitors' advantage in the very first minute of the second half with a crisp low drive. Rebic was later dismissed for a second bookable offence, but the Eagles held on for victory - even if Reiss Nelson reduced the arrears with a fine late strike.
STOP THEM IF YOU CAN...
Frankfurt's forwards have been firing on all cylinders this season, with Luka Jovic (21 goals), Sebastien Haller (16) and Ante Rebic (9) providing 68 per cent of their 68 goals in all competitions. Hoffenheim's makeshift defence will have their work cut out today as they look to stop Jovic and Haller in particular; the Serbian rising star is the Bundesliga's top marksman with 15 goals, while Frenchman Haller has 11.
INJURY WOES FOR NAGELSMANN
Hoffenheim coach Julian Nagelsmann may have to do without four defenders in Frankfurt today - captain Kevin Vogt and Benjamin Hübner are both sidelined with injury, Pavel Kaderabek is suspended and Ermin Bicakcic is doubtful. The visitors are also missing at least two midfielders - Dennis Geiger and Leonardo Bittencourt - while Florian Grillitsch and Lukas Rupp could be ruled out as well. " We don't have many players available," Nagelsmann sighed in Thursday's pre-game press conference. Will a patched-up TSG be able to contain Frankfurt's considerable attacking threat?
HÜTTER: "IT WON’T BE DULL, THAT’S FOR SURE"
Frankfurt coach Adi Hütter insists he doesn't consider his side the favourites against Hoffenheim this afternoon, and says he is expecting a fascinating encounter. "We're three points ahead of them, we've both played in Europe, and Hoffenheim have scored one goal more than us – that's why I don’t see us as favourites whatsoever," the Austrian explained. "I'm expecting an interesting game between two attack-minded teams. Hoffenheim have been one of the best teams in Germany in the last few years and have won all their recent games, but we're also on an eight-game unbeaten run. It won't be dull, that's for sure."
BOTH UNBEATEN IN AT LEAST FIVE
The two teams come into this one in pretty good form, with Frankfurt having not tasted defeat in their last eight outings in all competitions (W3 D5). More importantly, the Eagles have claimed impressive wins in their last two games - 4-1 against Shakhtar Donetsk to reach the Europa League last 16, and 3-0 at Hannover in the Bundesliga. Hoffenheim are unbeaten in five league matches, with wins over Freiburg (4-2) and Hannover (also 3-0), and draws against Düsseldorf (1-1), Dortmund (3-3) and Leipzig (1-1).
GUTEN MORGEN
Now that we've all had a few hours to digest Augsburg's stunning 2-1 win over Borussia Dortmund last night, it's time to focus on Saturday's Bundesliga action. The standout 3.30pm fixture pits European hopefuls Frankfurt (6th) and Hoffenheim (8th) against each other at the Commerzbank-Arena, with just three points separating them in the table...
Welcome along to the match centre for the game Frankfurt vs. Hoffenheim from matchday 24 of the 2018/19 Bundesliga season at the Commerzbank-Arena. Check back here for full information on the match.