Bayer Sport - Nachrichten

August 30, 2008

5-2 win in the BayArena

Bayer overwhelm Hoffenheim

An exciting first 45 minutes and a great end to the game by the Werkself got the fans on their feet. With a 5-2 victory against a decent Hoffenheim side Bayer 04 have now moved into the leading group in the Bundesliga.

Almost everything worked out perfectly for Bruno Labbadia’s team whose line-up was exactly right. Karim Haggui replaced the injured Gonzalo Castro and it was the Tunisian who scored the first goal.

Haggui''s unstoppable header from a Tranquillo Barnetta free kick found the far corner of the net on 8 minutes and the other central defender did not have long to wait to make his mark on the game. With 17 minutes gone Barnetta sent in a corner and Manuel Friedrich headed home from ten yards out.

Two goals, lots of chances

Two goals were a true reflection of Bayer 04’s superiority. Bayer were fast and accurate going forward and Patrick Helmes spurned two chances early on.

The 2-1 came as even more of a surprise: Vedad Ibisevic was unchallenged as he headed a Sejad Salihovic cross into the Bayer net after 21 minutes. Newly promoted Hoffenheim showed glimpses of their evident ability but were unable to match an outstanding performance by Bayer 04.

And this was demonstrated at set pieces. Stefan Kießling was first to react in the six yard box following a shot from Djakpa to make it 3-1 nine minutes before the half time whistle. TSG Hoffenheim were lucky to go onto the break only two goals down. Renato Augusto and Kießling passed up the chance to score the fourth before the break.

4-1 goes begging

The second half showed why Hoffenheim won their first two matches of the season. TSG played as well as the hosts although an unmarked Barnetta missed the chance to put the Werkself 4-1 up with only keeper Ramazan Özcan to beat seven minutes into the second period.

The next goal was scored at the other end. Djakpa made a clumsy challenge on Ibisevic in the box and Salihovic stepped up to score the penalty just before the hour mark.

Bayer appeared to fade at this point but Hoffenheim were unable to create any further decent chances on goal. The BayArena only really came to light in the dying minutes of the match .

Great finish

Barnetta surprised Özcan with a chip from 25 yards out to make it 4-2 with seven minutes to go. And a fantastic assist from substitute Theofanis Gekas that nutmegged two Hoffenheim players, was easily converted by Kießling for the 5-2 final score on 87 minutes.

There are no games in the Bundesliga next weekend due to international fixtures. Bayer’s next encounter is a top of the table clash away to HSV Hamburg on 13 September.

Bayer 04: Fernandez - Henrique, Friedrich, Haggui, Djakpa - Rolfes - Renato Augusto, Vidal, Barnetta - Helmes, Kießling

1899 Hoffenheim: Özcan - Beck, P. Nilsson, Compper, Jaissle - Weis, Luiz Gustavo, Salihovic - Carlos Eduardo - Ibisevic, Ba

Goals: 1-0 Haggui (8 min), 2-0 Friedrich (17 min), 2-1 Ibisevic (21 min), 3-1 Kießling (36 min), 3-2 Salihovic (58 min penalty), 4-2 Barnetta (83 min), 5-2 Kießling (87 min)

Substitutions: Teber for Weis (46), Schwegler for Vidal ( 61), Wellington for Jaissle (71.), Copado for Ba (71), Dum for Renato Augusto (80), Gekas for Helmes (86)

Booked: Luiz Gustavo, Teber

Referee: Dr Brych (Munich)