Football singularity-Chapter 721 Hoffenheim

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[2021-04-09, 19:45 | PreZero Arena Sinsheim, Germany | Bundesliga MW 28]

[MW: 28 TSG 1899 Hoffenheim vs Bayer 04 Leverkusen]

Despite the bitter loss that ended their undefeated run against Borussia Dortmund that season, they still had to come back to work. They still had a Bundesliga title that was there to lose, so they couldn’t wallow in the last match. They could afford to stumble, especially since they face Bayern in match week 30, which could decide the season.

Thus, over the past four days, they have been preparing for their match against Hoffenheim. For the match, Bosz fielded a mixed line-up of his third-string players and starters, with Rakim, Baumgartlinger, Tah and Aranguiz remaining in the starting line-up. Hoffenheim, who had secured their relegation fight, didn’t have a stake or hope of winning any title or European spot this season. It really showed in the match as league leaders ran rampant like a pride of hungry lions.

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Formation - Bayer 04 Leverkusen (4-2-3-1):

GK: Lennart Grill

RB: Timothy Fosu-Mensah

CB: Jonathan Tah (c)

CB: Tin Jedvaj

LB: Daley Sinkgraven

CDM: Julian Baumgartlinger

CDM: Charles Aránguiz

RW: Karim Bellarabi

CAM: Kerem Demirbay

LW: Rakim Rex

ST: Lucas Alario

Manager: Peter Bosz

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Formation - TSG 1899 Hoffenheim (3-5-2):

GK: Oliver Baumann

CB: Kevin Vogt

CB: Stefan Posch

CB: Kasim Adams

RWB: Robert Skov

LWB: Ryan Sessegnon

CDM: Florian Grillitsch

CM: Dennis Geiger

CM: Christoph Baumgartner

ST: Andrej Kramarić

ST: Munas Dabbur

Manager: Sebastian Hoeneß

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(FWEEET!)

[5’]

Leverkusen attacked with fury from the opening whistle, hungry to end this game early. It didn’t take them long to produce their first chance when Rakim collected the ball on the left touchline. He spun past his marker with a shoulder drop and immediately took on Skov with a sharp burst of acceleration.

The Danish wing-back tried to stand firm, but Rakim dropped his shoulder, feinted inside with a step over, then exploded down the line. He drove to the byline, drawing Posch across, then whipped in a dangerous cross toward the penalty spot. Alario attacked it, rising between two defenders. His header was powerful, directed downward.

Baumann dove, but couldn’t keep it out, and the ball nestled into the bottom right corner. Alario didn’t need a second glance and sprinted to the corner, sliding on his knees as his teammates mobbed him. The Argentine looked relieved—this was exactly the start he needed.

"GOOOOOAL!" the commentator roared. "LUCAS ALARIO! Leverkusen take an early lead! Just five minutes in, and they’re off the mark!"

[TSG 1899 Hoffenheim 0-1 Bayer 04 Leverkusen — Lucas Alario 5’]

[18’]

Hoffenheim tried to respond, pushing forward with more ambition as Kramarić dropped deep to collect the ball. He expertly turned away from Baumgartlinger’s challenge and played it wide to Sessegnon on the left. The winger drove forward at pace before whipping in a cross.

Dabbur rose at the far post, getting his head to it—but Grill positioned himself perfectly, catching it cleanly. The young German keeper immediately launched a counter, throwing it out to Fosu-Mensah on the right. The Dutch fullback drove forward with purpose, exchanging a quick one-two with Bellarabi to escape Geiger’s press.

He drove into the final third, then played a diagonal pass over the head of everyone to Rakim on the left. The winger controlled it with one touch, then cut inside onto his right foot. He drove toward the edge of the box, with the intention to shoot, drawing Vogt out of position, then slipped a pass to Demirbay in the pocket.

The German midfielder took one touch to steady himself, then curled a shot toward the top right corner. Baumann dove, getting fingertips to it, but the power was too much, and the ball crashed into the back of the net. "GOOOOOAL!" the commentator exclaimed. "KEREM DEMIRBAY! Leverkusen double their lead! Beautiful buildup, clinical finish!"

[TSG 1899 Hoffenheim 0-2 Bayer 04 Leverkusen — Kerem Demirbay 18’]

[31’]

The rout continued when Aránguiz won the ball in midfield with a perfectly timed tackle on Baumgartner, and immediately drove forward. He played it wide to Rakim on the left, who took one touch before accelerating forward. Performing a couple of step overs as he closed in on Skov, he used a quick reversé elastico to break past him.

He drove to the edge of the box, drawing three defenders toward him, then Ronaldo chopped it to the overlapping Sinkgraven. The Dutch left-back struck it first-time with his right foot, but Baumann blocked it with his legs. The rebound fell kindly to Rakim, who had continued his run into the box. He didn’t need an invitation—side-footing it past the scrambling keeper.

"GOOOOOAL!" the commentator roared. "RAKIM REX! He makes it three! Hoffenheim are being torn apart!"

[TSG 1899 Hoffenheim 0-3 Bayer 04 Leverkusen — Rakim Rex 31’]

[42’]

Just before halftime, Baumgartlinger intercepted a sloppy pass from Grillitsch in midfield, playing it forward to Demirbay. The playmaker turned sharply, spotting Rakim making a diagonal run from the left. He threaded a perfectly weighted through ball between the centre-backs and right-back.

Rakim timed his run to perfection, staying onside by a hair, bursting past Skov entering through the side of the box. Baumann guarded the front post, watching him cut inward and square it across the six-yard box. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

The goalkeeper rushed, tried to stretch out his foot, but he didn’t reach it and could only lunge across from his disadvantageous position. It was too late as Alario slid in, beating Stefan Posch and Kasim Adams to the ball. "GOOOOOAL!" the commentator exclaimed. "LUCAS ALARIO! His second of the night! Four-nil! Leverkusen are running riot!"

"What a dominant first-half performance from Leverkusen!" the commentator announced. "Four goals, complete control, and Hoffenheim have no answers. The league leaders are making a statement after that Dortmund defeat."

[TSG 1899 Hoffenheim 0-4 Bayer 04 Leverkusen — Lucas Alario 42’]

*(FWEEET! FWEEET!)*

[HT: TSG 1899 Hoffenheim 0-4 Bayer 04 Leverkusen]

~~~

*(FWEEET!)*

[45’]

The second half began with Leverkusen comfortably controlling possession, playing keep-away as Hoffenheim chased, trying to regain pride. Bosz had clearly instructed them to manage the game—and they took no unnecessary risks, just focusing on patient buildup. They simply strangled the game’s momentum, taking the air out of the home side, who came out swinging from the break.

[59’]

Around the 59th, Rakim collected the ball on the left touchline and immediately took on Skov again. The wing-back stayed close, using his hands and contact to keep him at bay, forcing Rakim to work harder than before. He feinted inside, then outside, before Ronaldo chopped inside as he exploded after the ball.

He was forced to perform a quick Lacroquet to escape Florian Grillitsch, who tried to steal the loose ball. He broke past the CDM and was immediately met by Stefan Posch, who stepped up to stop him. His speed, along with two step-overs, swayed the defender, and before he could react, he was beside him.

From outside the D, he let loose a powerful shot with the outside of his right boot, sending the ball spinning toward the top right corner. Baumann dove desperately, fully extended, but the trajectory was too sharp. The ball slipped past his outstretched fingertips and crashed into the side netting.

"GOOOOOAL!" the commentator roared. "RAKIM REX! HIS SECOND OF THE NIGHT! WHAT A STRIKE! ABSOLUTE THUNDERCAT! FIVE-NIL!"

[TSG 1899 Hoffenheim 0-5 Bayer 04 Leverkusen — Rakim Rex 59’]

[64’]

Bosz made his first substitutions, withdrawing Rakim and Tah in favour of Demarai Gray and Sven Bender. Both players received warm applause from the bench for a job well done as they jogged off. The remaining minutes were played at a leisurely pace.

Leverkusen passed the ball around comfortably, while Hoffenheim chased a consolation goal. The home side looked utterly demoralised, which led to more fouls as they no longer wanted to concede another goal. The game quickly turned into a quagmire in the sense that nothing noteworthy happened except long-range attempts and free kicks.

Around the 75th minute, Bosz made further changes, bringing on Palacios for Demirbay and Leon Bailey for Bellarabi. The fresh legs kept the pressure on Hoffenheim, but the home side slowly grew accustomed to them and began creating chances to launch counters. Still, they had the upper hand, and in the 82nd Bailey nearly made it six when he collected the ball on the right.

He beat his man and then cut inside onto his left foot, letting loose a curled shot toward the far left corner. Baumann reacted brilliantly, diving full stretch to tip it over the bar. "OLIVER BAUMANN!" the commentator exclaimed. "Keeping the scoreline somewhat respectable! It could easily be seven or eight!"

[90+2’]

The fourth official raised his board, signalling two minutes of added time. Leverkusen played keep-away, passing the ball around comfortably in Hoffenheim’s half. Gray received it on the left, turning back toward Amiri rather than driving forward.

The midfielder knocked it to Baumgartlinger, who played it back to Bender. The German centre-back held it for a moment, then passed it back to Grill. The young goalkeeper received it calmly, then immediately booted it long as the referee blew his whistle.

*(FWEEET! FWEEET! FWEEEEEET!)*

[FT: TSG 1899 Hoffenheim 0-5 Bayer 04 Leverkusen]

"It’s over!" the commentator announced. "A comprehensive victory for Bayer Leverkusen! Five goals, a clean sheet, and a statement of intent! Rakim Rex with two goals and two assists, Lucas Alario with a brace, and Kerem Demirbay also on the scoresheet. This is exactly the response Peter Bosz wanted after the Dortmund defeat."

Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts

1 | Bayer 04 Leverkusen | 28 | 20 | 5 | 3 | 80 | 23 | +57 | 65

2 | Bayern Munich | 28 | 20 | 4 | 4 | 78 | 28 | +50 | 64

3 | RB Leipzig | 28 | 16 | 5 | 7 | 52 | 32 | +20 | 53

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TO BE CONTINUED...