Andrej Kramaric hits superb free-kick as Hoffenheim snatch a point at Bayern Munich
Andrej Kramaric scored a superb free-kick to earn Hoffenheim a 1-1 draw at Bayern Munich, damaging the Bundesliga leaders' title charge while giving their own relegation hopes a much-needed shot in the arm.
Bayern 1-1 Hoffenheim
Goals: 1-0 Pavard 17' (assist: Coman), 1-1 Kramaric (71')
It was by no means a vintage Bayern performance in the first half, but they still put did enough to dominate their visitors without playing them off the park. Benjamin Pavard fired off the first warning shot in the fifth minute with an effort that fizzed over the bar, but he did much better with his next attempt. Controlling Kingsley Coman's mis-hit shot on the edge of the six-yard box, the 27-year-old poked the ball in from close range. Thomas Müller glanced a header over from a Joshua Kimmich corner and Serge Gnabry flashed a shot just wide following a neat Leroy Sane flick as Thomas Tuchel's side pushed for more, but despite a shot count of eight to zero in the first 45 minutes, it remained 1-0 at the break.
Coman and Sane had promising openings early in the second half, but Hoffenheim began to grow in confidence the longer the scoreline remained the same. Pavel Kaderabek should perhaps have done better than skew wide with a free volley at the back post before Angelo Stiller sent a looping header over Yann Sommer wide from the edge of the box. Their pressure eventually paid off when Kramaric drew a foul from Müller just outside the Bayern box, before dusting himself down and curling a sumptuous free-kick over the wall and into the corner. Pavard thought he had restored Bayern's lead just seconds later, but his effort was ruled out for offside. Oliver Baumann had to make two brilliant stops to thwart Gnabry and Mathys Tel in the closing stages, but try as they might Bayern couldn't score again as Hoffenheim snatched a point that could be hugely significant at both ends of the table.
Match stats
- Pavard scored his fourth Bundesliga goal of the campaign, equalling his personal single-season best set in 2019/20.
- Coman's assist was his fifth of 2022/23, to go with his six goals.
- Bayern have now scored at least once in 54 consecutive Bundesliga home games. The last time they failed to find the net at the Allianz Arena was a 0-0 draw against RB Leipzig in February 2020.
- The Reds have now scored 52 first-half goals in this campaign, equalling their own record for an entire Bundesliga season set in 2020/21.
- Kramaric now has nine Bundesliga goals this season, including four in his last four games.
- Bayern have conceded 12 goals from dead-ball situations this season - more than they have let in since the 2008/09 season.
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Watch: Matthijs de Ligt bemoans "unacceptable" performance
Teams
Bayern: Sommer - Pavard, Upamecano, de Ligt, Cancelo (Gravenberch 80') - Kimmich, Goretzka (Musiala 60') - Coman (Davies 60'), Müller (c), Sane (Tel 60') - Gnabry
Unused subs: Ulreich, Blind, Stanisic, Mazraoui, Sarr
Out: Choupo-Moting (knee), Hernandez (knee), Mane (disciplinary), Neuer (broken leg)
Coach: Thomas Tuchel
Hoffenheim: Baumann (c) - Kabak (Nsoki 62'), Brooks, Akpoguma - Kaderabek, Geiger, Stiller (Becker 62'), Angelino - Kramaric - Bebou, Baumgartner (Dolberg 83')
Unused subs: Philipp, Bicakcic, Rudy, Delaney, Bischof, Skov
Out: Bruun Larsen (groin), Che (groin), Dabbur (suspended), Prömel (ankle), Vogt (knee)
Coach: Pellegrino Matarazzo
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