Bundesliga
Hoffenheim returned to winning with ways a ruthless attacking display against Hamburg, with four different goalscorers on target as Christian Ilzer's side recorded a fourth straight win at home.
Hoffenheim 4-1 HamburgGoals: 1-0 Prömel 8’ (assist: Burger), 2-0 Kabak 31’ (assist: Prömel), 3-0 Lemperle 65’ (assist: Touré), 4-0 Asllani 72’ (assist: Prass), 4-1 Philippe 82’ (assist: Vieira)
Hoffenheim welcomed Hamburg to the PreZero Arena looking to bounce back from their 2-0 defeat to Borussia Dortmund on Matchday 13. The hosts had been in fine form at home, scoring nine goals in their previous three home matches.
For Hamburg, fresh off a milestone 750th Bundesliga victory against Werder Bremen, the challenge was to secure their first away win of the season, having taken just two points from a possible 18 on their travels.
Hoffenheim dominated possession from the first whistle, patiently building attacks and probing for openings against a cautious Hamburg side. Early pressure paid dividends in the eigth minute when Wouter Burger delivered a delightful cross from the left flank. Grischa Prömel ghosted unmarked into the penalty area and powered a header past Daniel Heuer Fernandes to give Hoffenheim the lead.
The hosts continued to control proceedings and doubled their advantage in the 31st minute with a goal of impressive technical quality. A flowing move saw Bazoumana Toure drive forward on the left, his cross found its way to Prömel, who laid the ball off to Ozan Kabak. The defender showed remarkable composure to take a touch that set up his shot perfectly before slotting past Heuer Fernandes.
Hamburg briefly threatened late in the half when Ransford-Yeboah Königsdörffer and Fabio Baldé forced Oliver Baumann into smart saves, but Hoffenheim took a comfortable two-goal lead into the break.
Hamburg emerged for the second-half with renewed purpose, introducing Rayan Philippe for Giorgi Gocholeishvili. The visitors' best chance came in the 49th minute when Miro Muheim unleashed a powerful long-range strike that forced Baumann into a fingertip save. Hoffenheim weathered this brief storm and reasserted their dominance in devastating fashion.
In the 65th minute, Vladimir Coufal delivered a pinpoint cross with his weaker left foot towards the far post, where Toure expertly cushioned the ball back across goal for Tim Lemperle to slot home for his fifth Bundesliga goal of the season. Seven minutes later, it was 4-0 when substitute Alexander Prass whipped in a dangerous cross from the left that was cleverly turned in by fellow substitute Fisnik Asllani with a deft flick.
Hamburg did manage a consolation in the 82nd minute, with Philippe latching onto a brilliant pass from Fábio Vieira before finishing past Baumann, who got a touch but couldn't keep the ball out.
The visitors had a chance to add a second in stoppage time when Burger handled in the area, but Philippe slipped during his run-up and blazed the penalty over the crossbar, summing up Hamburg's disappointing afternoon as they remain winless on the road.
Bundesliga Match Facts
xGoals: Hoffenheim 2.07 - Hamburg 1.22
Fastest player: Bazoumana Toure (Hoffenheim), 34.9 km/h
Lowest goal probability: 4-1 by Rayan Philippe (Hamburg), 10 percent
Most pressed player: Bazoumana Toure (Hoffenheim), 19 times under pressure
Pass efficiency: Leon Avdullahu (Hoffenheim), +2.21
Fantasy Heroes: Grischa Prömel (Hoffenheim, 303 Points), Tim Lemperle (Hoffenheim, 274 Points), Ozan Kabak (Hoffenheim, 246 Points)