Bundesliga
FIFA World Cup winner Sami Khedira was on the losing side in the final game of his career after Andrej Kramaric got a late winner for Hoffenheim against Hertha Berlin.
Hoffenheim 2-1 Hertha Berlin
Goals: 0-1 Darida (43’), 1-1 Adamyan (49’), 2-1 Kramaric (90+1)
Pal Dardai made six changes to the team that secured Hertha's top-flight status with a scoreless draw at home to Cologne last time out, handing 2014 world champion Khedira one last start as well as giving him the captain's armband. The opening exchanges saw Hertha winger Nemanja Radonjic have a shot beaten away by Hoffenheim netminder Philipp Pentke at his near post before Sargis Adamyan lashed a strike into the side net for the home side. On 10 minutes Ihlas Bebou lifted the ball over Hertha keeper Alexander Schwolow from close range - and over the bar - after Kramaric dinked the ball into him. Kramaric - mid-table Hoffenheim's skipper for the day - threatened a 20th league goal of the season before Radonjic was off target with another strike in a lively opening. A quiet period followed before Robert Skov played in Pavel Kaderabek on the half hour, only for the Hoffenheim full-back to fire wide with a first-time shot from the right of the six-yard box. The game seemed to be drifting towards half-time until Hertha left-back Marvin Plattenhardt whipped over a great cross that found Vladimir Darida completely unmarked to head home his first goal of the season from six yards out.
Hertha brought on Dodi Lukebakio and Santiago Ascacibar at the interval, and the latter's attempt to burst into the area almost led to a second goal for the visitors three minutes after the restart. The ball broke to Darida who stroked the ball off the post from inside the penalty area, a miss that he would regret even more only a minute later. Hoffenheim put together a good move that ended with on-loan Tottenham full-back Ryan Sessegnon sending a low ball across from the left that was slotted home by Adamyan from eight yards out. Kramaric then looked set to fire the hosts into the lead three minutes later, but Hertha defender Peter Pekarik threw himself in the way for a superb block. Substitute Daishawn Redan got a header on target and Lukebakio had a shot pushed over as Hertha came back into the game, with Redan later showing great skill before Pentke denied him again. With 16 minutes to go an emotional Khedira was withdrawn, and the 34-year-old was embraced by his teammates and given a guard of honour by the visitors as he left the field for the final time. With the veteran midfielder off the field, Kramaric stole all three points for Hoffenheim in injury-time after sweeping in from Bebou's pass.
Hoffenheim: Pentke - Kaderabek, Posch, Vogt, Sessegnon (John 69') - Grillitsch, Samassekou (Rudzy 64') - Skov (Rutter 64'), Kramaric (c), Adamyan - Bebou
Unused subs: Noll, Philipp, Adams, Bogarde, Haider
Out: Akpoguma (thigh), Baumann (pelvis), Baumgartner (ankle), Belfodil (knock), Bicakcic (knee), Dabbur (personal reasons), Gacinovic (suspended), Geiger (hamstring), Hübner (ankle), Nordtveit (foot), Richards (thigh), Stafylidis (shoulder)
Coach: Sebastian Hoeneß
Hertha: Schwolow - Pekarik, Stark (M. Dardai 64'), Boyata, Plattenhardt - Darida, Khedira (c) (Dirkner 75') - Leckie (Redan 59'), Löwen (Ascacibar HT), Radonjic - Ngankam (Lukebakio HT)
Unused subs: Loftka, Klünter, Werthmüller, Zeefuik
Out: Cordoba (ankle), Cunha (ankle), Guendouzi (foot), Jarstein (match fitness), Mittelstädt (concussion), Netz (foot), Piatek (ankle), Torunarigha (suspended)
Coach: Pal Dardai