Hoffenheim suffered a painful home defeat to Borussia Dortmund after squandering a comfortable two-goal lead. An own goal from Albian Hajdari in the dying stages sealed the 3-2 loss at the PreZero Arena.
The TSG were in firm control of the match for long periods. Leon Avdullahu and Tim Lemperle scored to establish a 2-0 lead that lasted until the 54th minute. But Dortmund then turned the game completely on its head. Serhou Guirassy and Fabio Silva equalized for the visitors before Hajdari unfortunately turned the ball into his own net.
After a strong first half and the early second-half lead, TSG seemed on course for their first points of the season. However, Dortmund increased the pressure and the Hoffenheim defense came under sustained attack. Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel later analyzed his team's difficulties in the first half, which were ultimately overcome. "We struggled to find our way into the game, to create effective combination plays, and to win second balls," said Kobel.
The defeat leaves Hoffenheim with zero points from two matches in 16th place in the Bundesliga table. Coach Pellegrino Matarazzo's team has scored four goals so far but conceded six, resulting in a negative goal difference of -2. In the standings, a gap of six points has already opened up to leaders SC Freiburg.
The missed points at home are particularly costly in the early stage of the season. With a current record of two losses in two games, TSG is under pressure to react quickly. The upcoming matches will be key to avoid losing touch with the competition in the middle of the table. The complete overview of the current league position can be found in our standings.
For Borussia Dortmund, it was a historic success. It was the first time since January 2022 that BVB overturned a two-goal deficit to win an away Bundesliga match. For Dortmund coach Niko Kovac, it was also his 50th Bundesliga game in charge of BVB, in which he set a new club record with 107 points. Kovac himself admitted there was an element of luck. "It was a lucky win, you have to say that, especially when you win the game thanks to an own-goal," said the coach.
TSG must quickly put the disappointment behind them, as the next Bundesliga opponent is already waiting. On September 12, 2026, Hoffenheim hosts VfB Stuttgart at the PreZero Arena. Stuttgart is currently in 8th place and presents another tough challenge. All upcoming team fixtures are listed in our fixtures calendar.
Pellegrino Matarazzo's team urgently needs to address the defensive issues that have conceded six goals in the first two games. Maintaining concentration for the full 90 minutes will be the key to securing the first points of the season. Preparation for the clash with Stuttgart begins immediately, with the players also listed on the club's squad page.
