Hoffenheim motoring again with win over Bielefeld

Hoffenheim 2-0 Bielefeld
Goals: 1-0 Hübner 26' (assist: Raum), 2-0 Rutter 51' (assist: Dabbur)

For all of their impressive efforts over recent weeks, Hoffenheim had nothing to show from four previous games in all competitions, which included three straight Bundesliga losses and a DFB Cup exit. If luck had deserted the Sinsheimers during that period, it returned here to favour Sebastian Hoeneß's men, whose opening goal had a hint of fortune attached. After enjoying a strong opening to the contest, in which Rutter had been within inches of scoring, the hosts edged in front when Benjamin Hübner's powerful header struck the woodwork and then clipped goalkeeper Stefan Ortega before crossing the line. Despite a run of six games without a loss, Arminia were still wrestling it out at the wrong end of the Bundesliga table. The visitors were also having a tough fight of it at the Rhein-Neckar-Arena but did threaten through Gonzalo Castro and Janni Serra. Opportunities aside, Bielefeld were lucky not to enter the break further behind, with Ortega denying Christoph Baumgartner before Diadie Samassekou struck the woodwork.

Feeling the loss of suspended attacker Patrick Wimmer - a January Player of the Month contender - Arminia looked to other sources with which to prise their opponents open. Cedric Brunner's shot against the post shortly after the restart would have been disallowed for an offside in the build up, but it nonetheless gave the visitors a brief lift. Discouragement would soon follow, however, with Rutter slamming home Munas Dabbur's clever cross from the left to put daylight between the teams. Bielefeld's chances of inflicting a first-ever defeat on Hoffenheim fading fast, Fabian Klos's miss from George Bello's centre did little to help matters for Frank Kramer's team. At the other end, Baumgartner might have made sure of the result but the 22-year-old's shot from distance found the side netting. The miss would matter little to a Hoffenheim side that is finally back to winning ways.

• Hübner's opener was the first time he scored since October 26, 2019, in a 3-2 win at Hertha BSC.
• Of the defender's eight Bundesliga goals, seven have been headers.
• Rutter now has five goals in his last ten Bundesliga games.
• Hübner is the 17th different Hoffenheim player to find the net this season. No other Bundesliga side can match that goalscoring diversity.
• Hoffenheim produced a first-half best with coach Sebastian Hoeneß at the helm, Die Kraichgauer managing 12 shots at goal in the first 45 minutes.
• TSG have still never lost a competitive fixture against Bielefeld (W3, D3 – all in the Bundesliga).

Watch: Bello: "We won't fall down from this"

Hoffenheim: Baumann – Grillitsch, Vogt, Hübner (c) (Posch 74') – Bebou (Bruun Larsen 74'), Geiger (Rudy 84'), Samassekou (Nordtveit 84'), Raum – Baumgartner – Dabbur, Rutter (Kaderábek 63')
Unused subs: Philipp, Akpoguma, Asllani
Out: Bicakcic (knee), John (not included), Kramaric (not included), Skov (thigh)
Coach: Sebastian Hoeneß

Bielefeld: Ortega (c) – Brunner, Pieper (Ramos 57'), Nilsson, Laursen (Bello 62') – Castro, Vasiliadis –  Okugawa (Lasme 75'), Schöpf, Krüger (Hack 62') – Serra (Klos 62')
Unused subs: Schulz, de Medina, Kunze, Fernandes
Out: Andrade (fitness), Prietl (illness), Wimmer (suspended)
Coach: Frank Kramer

Watch: Hübner: "I'm extremely happy"