Hoffenheim 4-0 Union Berlin
Goals: 1-0 Bebou (11’) 2-0 Kramaric (39’) 3-0 Dabbur (45+2’), 4-0 Baumgartner (68’)

Union captain Christopher Trimmel had a shot on target inside half a minute, but just 10 seconds later Hoffenheim came much closer to forging ahead. Ihlas Bebou cut the ball back to the recalled Andrej Kramaric near the penalty spot, but Moritz Nicolas - making his Bundesliga debut - flicked out his right foot to deny Hoffenheim’s leading goalscorer. Lively Togo international Bebou soon put the home side in front, however, after an excellent Kramaric pass released Robert Skov down the left. Nicolas got a touch as Skov fired a low cross over, but Bebou adjusted his feet well and slotted home from five yards out. The hosts continued to look the better side against the mid-table visitors, but they needed a touch of good fortune to double their lead. Skov’s free-kick from the right deflected to Kramaric at the back post, and the Croatia international – who turned 29 on Friday – slammed home first time for his eighth goal of the campaign. In first-half injury-time Hoffenheim got another, with Pavel Kaderabek playing in Munas Dabbur to shoot through the legs of Nicolas from the right side of the six-yard box.

Much-changed Union were playing like a side that had already ensured their top-flight safety last time out, and the second half was quieter as both teams made several substitutions. Hoffenheim weren’t done yet, though, and Benjamin Hübner’s wonderful, bending through ball from the left was finished off brilliantly by substitute Christoph Baumgartner. The win ensures Hoffenheim will be playing in at least the UEFA Europa League qualifying rounds next season. They would go straight into the group stage of that competition, however, if they manage to leapfrog Wolfsburg in sixth on the final day of the Bundesliga campaign.

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