Kramarić double against Union Berlin reaffirms Hoffenheim's UCL claim | OneFootball

In what felt like a rather eventless 90 minutes of Bundesliga football, a Kramarić brace led the way for Hoffenheim to reaffirm their Champions League claim. The hosts beat Union Berlin 3-1 and sit firmly in third place in the Bundesliga.

Here is our official match report for the game between Hoffenheim and Union Berlin on Matchday 20:

Match report: TSG Hoffenheim vs. Union Berlin

The opening stages offered little in the way of fluency. The first 15 minutes were marked by numerous small fouls, preventing either side from finding any real rhythm, and the match largely developed into a battle of physical duels rather than clear-cut chances.

Union Berlin did come agonisingly close to taking the lead after a rare defensive lapse from the hosts: Hajdari slipped inside his own penalty area while receiving a pass from Oliver Baumann, allowing Rani Khedira to pounce. However, the Union midfielder failed to beat Baumann, and with Ilić free inside the box, the visitors will feel a golden opportunity went begging.

As the half wore on, Hoffenheim began to grow into the contest, and their pressure finally paid off in the 40th minute. A foul from Querfeld on Asllani inside the penalty area handed the hosts a spot-kick, which club legend Andrej Kramarić calmly converted to net his seventh goal of the season and further strengthen Hoffenheim’s grip on third place in the Bundesliga table.

The hosts weren’t done yet. Just four minutes later, Hoffenheim struck again with a slick counter-attacking move. Prömel released Touré down the flank, whose pinpoint cross was met by Kramarić, completing his brace in the 44th minute. The goal marked the Croatian’s 134th Bundesliga strike, underlining his enduring importance to the club.

Despite a relatively uneventful first half overall, Hoffenheim’s late double has given them an excellent platform heading into the second period, while Union Berlin are left to rue missed chances and a costly lapse in concentration.

Shortly after halftime, a low-driven cross from Touré, who was missed during his involvement in the Africa Cup, did not find a teammate in blue, but Union's Diogo Leite, who unwillingly put the ball in his own net. 3-0 to the hosts after just 47 minutes.

Union, however, did not just give up - and they rewarded for their fight in the 69th minute. Captain Rani Khedira's shot was deflected by former Union player Grischa Prömel and found its way into Hoffenheim's goal. At first, the goal was taken back due to a foul on Hajdari in the build-up, but VAR interferred and Khedira's goal was given in the end. Only 3-1 now.

In the end, Hoffenheim cruised to a controlled victory with Union being unable to fully put the hosts under pressure in the final minutes of the game. Final result: Hoffenheim 3-1 Union Berlin