The audience is unusually quiet at the DFB Cup game between Leipzig and Hoffenheim, even though the defending champions took the lead early on in their own stadium. The trigger is a medical emergency immediately before kick-off. That’s why the fans are silent for a long time.
On a gloomy evening, DFB Cup specialist RB Leipzig took the next hurdle on the way to successfully defending the title. The Saxons won the round of 16, which was overshadowed by a medical emergency, against weak Bundesliga rivals TSG Hoffenheim 3-1 (2-0) and still need two wins to reach their fourth final in five years. As a sign of solidarity with the medically treated fan, the supporters largely refrained from loud support. “I noticed what happened there. We hope the best for the person concerned and his family,” said Leipzig goalscorer Emil Forsberg: “We are shocked and just hope that everything is fine.”
At the same time, RB continued its impressive run: Coach Marco Rose’s team has been unbeaten in 17 competitive games. TSG is still waiting for its first competitive win since October. Emil Forsberg (8th) and Konrad Laimer (41st) gave the Champions League round of 16 a comfortable lead before the break. Kasper Dolberg (77th) shortened the lead and briefly caused tension in the final phase – until Timo Werner (84th) scored for Leipzig. Hoffenheim’s Stanley N’Soki (86th) saw yellow-red shortly before the end.
“We’re a good team, we have great players, but the confidence is currently lacking,” said Hoffenheim’s newcomer Thomas Delaney on Sky. “We have to stop the simple goals we concede extremely quickly, otherwise we’ll have problems,” warned TSG goalkeeper Oliver Baumann: “We’re almost always losing, that gets on my nerves.”
The brief cheering after the goals broke the otherwise mostly prevailing silence in the stands. Because of a medical emergency, the lawn ball sport fans limited their support. A person had to be resuscitated at the stadium entrance before the game. She received emergency medical attention and was taken to the hospital.
Rose rotated vigorously, including the Norwegian Örjan Nyland in goal for Janis Blaswich. At TSG, Delaney initially sat on the bench. On the pitch, Leipzig initially left no doubts about their own ambitions. Rose’s team came out of the dressing room with great confidence and an offensive drive. After winning the ball, lawn ball sport switched quickly, but remained too imprecise in the passing game. Forsberg did better, taking the lead from around 20 meters out.
The atmosphere affected the game of both teams. Leipzig and Hoffenheim made a lot of lack of concentration and mistakes, rarely did a team dangerously advance into the last third of the opponent. In one of the few good actions, Andre Silva narrowly missed a sharp cross from Marcel Halstenberg. Shortly before the change of sides, Leipzig found new impetus. Long diagonal balls to Halstenberg proved to be a tried and tested means, Leipzig came to an end several times in the penalty area. Laimer, who is said to be about to move to Bayern Munich, increased. Silva (43rd) and Timo Werner (44th) had more chances.
Leipzig also seemed on course after the break. TSG didn’t come up with much offensively, and Delaney’s substitution didn’t initially have the desired effect. Lawn ball sport controlled the events in a weakening encounter, but often acted negligently and made little of the playful overweight. That took revenge when TSG came through through Dolberg and took heart. In the final minutes, Hoffenheim tried to increase the pressure before Werner made the decision. The Leipzig fans now cheered on their team a little louder.
