1. FC Köln looked on course for a second straight win until a late Andrej Kramaric strike cancelled out Max Finkgräfe’s superb free-kick in the 79th minute.
Team news
Pellegrino Matarazzo made three changes from Hoffenheim’s 2:2 draw with VfL Wolfsburg. Florian Grillitsch, Ihlas Bebou and Robert Skov replaced John Anthony Brooks, Anton Stach and Andrej Kramaric.
Timo Schultz was forced into one alteration from the side that started last weekend’s win against Eintracht Frankfurt. Luca Kilian replaced Timo Hübers, who missed out through illness.
Stalemate in the first-half
The first 45 minutes were intense but without any real openings. Both teams were stuck in a midfield battle, with Eric Martel and Denis Huseinbasic doing the dirty work in front of the back four. Wout Weghorst had the best opportunity just before the break, only to blaze over from eight yards after Robert Skov’s pass.
Kramaric cancels out Finkgräfe
The second-half continued where the first left off. FC had good openings going forward but were unable to pick the final pass when it mattered. Marvin Schwäbe only had one real save of note to make from Ihlas Bebou, whilst Benno Schmitz made a superb block to deny Robert Skov from close range.
Max Finkgräfe looked to have won the game for FC in the 79th minute. A free-kick 25 yards from goal was whipped up and over the wall, nestling in the back of the net before wheeling away to the massive travelling support. His first Bundesliga goal, and how.
However, despite FC’s defensive efforts, Hoffenheim would find an equaliser. Ozan Kabak’s header was chested down by Andrej Kramaric, who spun and volleyed home off the inside of the post. A late blow to the away win hopes.
FC have a short week ahead. Timo Schultz’s side take on Werder Bremen on Friday evening, with kick-off at the RheinEnergieSTADION at 20:30 CET.
Line-ups
TSG Hoffenheim (3-4-2-1): Baumann – Kabak, Grillitsch, Nsoki – Kaderabek (Akpoguma 68‘), Prömel, Tohumcu (Stach 68‘), Skov (Jurasek 82‘) – Bebou (Conté 82‘), Beier – Weghorst (Kramaric 68‘).
1. FC Köln (4-2-3-1): Schwäbe – Schmitz, Kilian, Chabot, Finkgräfe (Heintz 89‘) – Huseinbasic, Martel – Ljubicic, Kainz (Maina 58‘), Alidou (Tigges 74‘) – Thielmann (Adamyan 89‘).
Goals: 0:1, Finkgräfe 79’. 1:1, Kramaric 90+4’.
Referee: Christian Dingert (Lebecksmühle).
Booked: Bebou (32’), Schmitz (55’), Maina (76’), Chabot (76’), Stach (78’), Grillitsch 81’), Finkgräfe (84’).
Attendance: 23,020.