Hoffenheim reflect on “***** goal” and “dark” road ahead after St. Pauli loss | OneFootball

The losing Bundesliga side in Friday’s fixture continue to have their fair share of problems. Christian Ilzer’s Kraichgauer had picked up a tailwind entering the match, going undefeated in their last four league matches. The team’s 12th loss of the league campaign nevertheless leaves them just six points above the promotion-relegation playoff place in the table.

Ilzer’s squad seemed to respond well after a demoralising defeat against Union Berlin on matchday 21. Wins against Werder Bremen and Bochum, along with draws against Heidenheim and Stuttgart, gave the Sinsheimers plenty of hope. The latest loss against a relegation rival still truly stings, particularly in light of the forthcoming schedule.

After the international break, Hoffenheim must face red hot Augsburg. After that, a brutal April beckons. RB Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund are on the docket, as are league sensations Mainz and Freiburg. Bayern Munich, Borussia Mönchengladbach, and VfL Wolfsburg must also be faced before the season concludes.

Baumann – whose unexpected early return to the Hoffenheim goal was supposed to bolster the team – cut a horrible figure on St. Pauli’s game-winning goal. The German national team keeper reflected on his error while speaking to DAZN afterwards, and Ilzer spoke on the difficult road ahead.

“That was a completely ****** goal,” Baumann noted. “That went badly. They [St. Pauli] had a good press and brutally good processes today. From a neutral standpoint, they were very good. We didn’t come up with many solutions and were left reacting a lot. Things are very dark.“

“We also have to be able to beat one or two opponents from the upper half of the table,” Ilzer added. “I’ve always said that this season will remain difficult right up until the end. And that’s exactly what I’m expecting.“

GGFN | Peter Weis