Bundesliga
Arminia Bielefeld secured a vital 1-1 draw against Hoffenheim after Andreas Voglsammer's free-kick equaliser cancelled out Andrej Kramaric's record-breaking opener.
Arminia Bielefeld 1-1 Hoffenheim
Goals: 0-1 Kramaric (5'), 1-1 Voglsammer (23')
Before the match, all eyes were on Hoffenheim forward Kramaric; the Croatia international stood poised to claim a club record for a single season’s goal tally should he find the net. While others may have struggled with nerves on such an occasion, Kramaric wasted no time. Just five minutes into the match, the visitors successfully defended a corner and immediately turned defence into attack. Kramaric collected the ball and charged forward, laying the ball off to Sargis Adamyan, who returned the favour and the ball to allow the Hoffenheim captain to slot home the opener and write his name into the record books. Bielefeld refused to let their heads drop, however. With just over 20 minutes played, the hosts were awarded a free-kick in a dangerous position. Voglsammer stepped up to the mark, and curled an unstoppable shot over the wall and into the top corner to equalise. The two sides battled each other, and at-times torrential rain, but eventually returned to the dressing rooms with the scores level.
The sunshine returned for the beginning of the second half, and with it, a flood of chances. Bielefeld pressed relentlessly and went close to taking the lead, only for Philipp Pentke to produce some impressive saves to keep the teams on equal terms. Hoffenheim looked happy to soak up the pressure and try their luck on the counter-attack and nearly took the lead, once again through Kramaric, only to see Stefan Ortega stretch out a hand and produce a brilliant save to deny him a second goal. Ortega was once again called upon to keep his side in it and deny Kramaric. Securing the draw left Bielefeld close to Bundesliga safety, one point above the relegation zone ahead of their trip to VfB Stuttgart on the final day.
Bielefeld: Ortega - Brunner, Pieper, Nilsson, Lucoqui - Okugawa (Hartel 79'), Prietl, Maier (Kunze 89') - Doan (Schipplock 89'), Klos (c), Voglsammer (23') (Soukou 79')
Unused subs: Linner, van der Hoorn, Gebauer, de Medina, Vlap
Out: -
Coach: Frank Kramer
Hoffenheim: Pentke - Kaderabek, Posch, Akpoguma (Vogt 66'), Sessegnon (John 62') - Grillitsch, Samassekou - Skov (Gacinovic 62'), Kramaric (c) (5'), Adamyan (Rutter 83') - Bebou
Unused subs: Philipp, Rudy, Bogarde, Haider, Beier
Out: Baumann (pelvis), Baumgartner (ankle), Bicakcic (knee), Brenet (not included), Dabbur (personal reasons), Geiger (hamstring), Hübner (ankle), Nordtveit (foot), Richards (thigh), Stafylidis (shoulder)
Coach: Sebastian Hoeneß