Baumgartner snatches victory for Hoffenheim over Stuttgart

Hoffenheim 2-1 VfB Stuttgart
Goals: 0-1 Endo 58’ (assist: Kalajdzic), 1-1 Baumgartner 85‘ (assist: Rudy), 2-1 Baumgartner 89‘ (assist: Bruun Larsen)

Before kick-off, local rivalry was put aside as both teams gathered to support the DFL’s message of condemnation for Russia’s attack on Ukraine. But once the whistle went, it was all action. A couple of early half chances then suddenly turned to gilt-edged ones for both sides. Stuttgart should have been ahead on 20 minutes when Chris Führich was picked out with a ball across goal but somehow only struck the post from close range. Hoffenheim then immediately went up the other end, where Benjamin Hübner planted a header at Florian Müller from five yards before Pavel Kaderabek put the rebound against the crossbar from even closer. TSG did have the ball in the net when Hübner put away a rebound after Georginio Rutter had again been denied from point-blank range, but the young Frenchman was adjudged to be offside and the goal ruled out.

Pellegrino Matarazzo introduced his main striker Sasa Kalajdzic at the break, and the big man had an almost instant impact when he headed on a corner towards the far post for captain Wataru Endo to turn home and give the visitors the lead. With an advantage to defend, Stuttgart were content to sit back and frustrate Hoffenheim. The closest the hosts came to replying was an Ihlas Bebou header that missed the target. That was until five minutes from time when Baumgartner drove down the right, cut inside and bent the ball into the far top corner. The Austrian then completed the comeback on the stroke of 90 minutes when he fizzed a shot high into the Stuttgart goal after a cross from the left was misjudged. The result leaves Stuttgart in the bottom two, three points off Augsburg in 15th, while Hoffenheim climb into the top four, at least overnight.

Watch: Hoffenheim and Stuttgart united in condemning Russia’s attack on Ukraine

• Baumgartner bagged his second Bundesliga brace. His first came in a 3-1 win over Cologne in May 2020.
• Hoffenheim have now scored 17 times in the final 15 minutes of games this season – a league high.
• TSG have also struck the frame of the goal the most times of any team (16).
• The Sinsheimers have come from behind to earn points in six games this campaign. That's the most in the division and also a club record in a single season.
• Endo scored his first Bundesliga goal since the opening weekend against Greuther Fürth, ending a 22-match drought.
• Stuttgart are now nine games without a win (D2, L7), which is the longest current run in the division.

Watch: Baumgartner: "I did my Andrej Kramaric move!"

Hoffenheim: Baumann - Posch, Grillitsch, Hübner (c) - Kaderabek (Dabbur 70’), Baumgartner, Geiger (Rudy 58’), Raum - Kramaric - Rutter (Bruun Larsen 81’), Bebou (Stiller 70’)
Unused subs: Philipp, Adams, Samassekou, Che, Akpoguma
Out: Bicakcic (knee), Richards (foot), Skov (thigh), Vogt (groin)
Coach: Sebastian Hoeneß 

Stuttgart: Müller - Stenzel (Massimo 73’), Mavropanos, Anton, Ito - Endo (c), Karazor, Mangala (Förster 37’) – Führich (Kalajdzic 46’), Tomas, Marmoush (Thommy 86’)
Unused subs: Bredlow, Mola, Egloff, Ahamada, Beyaz
Out: Didavi (not included), Nartey (knee), Sankoh (knee), Silas (shoulder), Sosa (knee), Tidibi (not included)
Coach: Pellegrino Matarazzo