German FA confirms two-match-ban for Hoffenheim’s Leo Østigård | OneFootball

A straight red card in this weekend’s Bundesliga loss to RB Leipzig will earn TSG 1899 Hoffenheim defender Leo Østigård a two-match-ban. The Norwegian was sent off the pitch in the 28th minute after denying RB striker Loïs Openda a clear goal-scoring opportunity. Hoffenheim must make do without one of their most reliable defensive stalwarts in tough matches against European contenders Mainz 05 and SC Freiburg.

Østigård has started six of the last seven Bundesliga fixtures under TSG head coach Christian Ilzer, largely earning respectable notes in German press sources. Ilzer will likely have to revert to a back-three as a means of compensating for the absence as he doesn’t have another reliable central defender to turn to.

In 14th place on 27 points, Hoffenheim are absolutely not out of the Bundesliga relegation race yet. German top-flight teams generally cannot consider themselves safe unless they reach 35 points in the season. Ilzer’s Sinsheimers have six fixtures left to pick these up. Bochum, Heidenheim, and St. Pauli are all nipping at the team’s heels.

Interestingly enough, a potential Hoffenheim relegation may end up furnishing some Bundesliga history. The TSG reserves are currently looking likely candidates to capture their fourth division crown and earn promotion to the 3. Liga.

Should Ilzer’s crew get relegated, the first and second club teams would play one tier apart for the first time since the introduction of the third professional tier in the 2007/08 season.

GGFN | Peter Weis