Hoffenheim take Baden-Schwaben spoils as Hlozek double sinks Stuttgart | OneFootball

Hoffenheim took a deserved 1-0 lead into the break against Stuttgart after Adam Hlozek rounded off a superb counter-attack in the 13th minute.

Both Hlozek and Ermedin Demirovic had already passed up big opportunities during a lively opening ten minutes, before the hosts punished Stuttgart on the break.

After stopping Dzenan Pejcinovic from getting a shot away at one end, Hoffenheim broke at speed, with Bambase Conte nutmegging Maximilian Mittelstädt on the touchline before driving forward and releasing Hlozek. The Czech forward kept his composure to beat Fabian Bredlow, with his effort going in off the Stuttgart goalkeeper. 

Stuttgart felt they should have been awarded a penalty after an incident involving Angelo Stiller inside the box, who couldn't continue, and young Austrian Yannik Spalt was introduced in his place.

Hoffenheim increasingly took control as the half wore on, repeatedly finding space between the lines before Hlozek almost doubled his tally in the 38th minute, forcing Bredlow into a strong save as Sebastian Hoeneß's side struggled to regain control.

The pressure continued right up until the interval, with a Hoffenheim penalty appeal undergoing a late VAR check before no spot-kick was awarded. Stuttgart looked increasingly desperate for the half-time whistle by that stage, with the immediate goal to get to half-time just the one goal behind.

That break would do Stuttgart the world of good, with Die Schwaben looking a different side upon their return. 

On the same flank in which Conte broke in the first half, Josha Vagnoman made his way down the right-hand-side before Oliver Baumann beat Chris Führich to the ball, while his mix-up with Vladimir Coufal sent the ball straight into the path of Mittelstädt, who made up for his first-half error by sweeping home in front of the travelling Stuttgart contingent.

Following the goal, it would be the visitors who took control, with summer signing Pejcinovic close to netting his first league goal for the club.

Bilal El Khannouss was on, as was Deniz Undav, but it would be Hoffenheim who retook the lead in the 67th minute, once again through Hlozek. 

After an El Khannouss pass was intercepted in midfield, Adahm Daghim would slip in the Czech forward, who powered home past the onrushing Bredlow to give his side the lead again, against the run of play.

Stuttgart would continue to threaten, but still looked disjointed in the final third, while Jamie Leweling was thrown on to add more pace, alongside young summer arrival Leo Sauer. 

However, Hoffenheim stood firm, while VfB struggled to turn possession into chances. 

Hlozek's second ultimately proved decisive, with the Czech forward's brace securing all three points for Christian Ilzer's side after an impressive display on home soil.

For Stuttgart, it was a frustrating afternoon just days after their Champions League victory over Viking. 

Hoeneß's side had responded impressively after the interval and found a route back into the contest through Mittelstädt, but were punished for yet another error at the back, as has been a common theme in the early days of the season.

Hoffenheim, meanwhile, bounced back from their defeat against Borussia Dortmund in style, with Hlozek's clinical finishing making the difference in Sinsheim