Youthful Hoffenheim side shines against Ludogorets

Hoffenheim earned a point in their final Europa League group game against Bulgarian champions Ludogorets. It was the youngest TSG side to take the pitch since 2009. Philipp Ochs put the men from Kraichgau in front with his first ever professional goal in the first half, but Wanderson would get a goal back in the second to earn a 1-1 draw for his side.

Personnel and tactics

Julian Nagelsmann’s starting eleven for TSG’s final Europa League game of the 2017/2018 season was as follows: Gregor Kobel, Ermin Bicakcic, Havard Nordtveit, Eugen Polanski, Robert Zulj, Justin Hoogma, Philipp Ochs, Felix Passlack, Simon Lorenz, Robin Hack and Alexander Rossipal.

The team set up in a 3-4-3 formation, with Bicakcic, Lorenz and Hoogma making up  the back three in front of Kobel in net. Alexander Rossipal and Felix Passlack were on the flanks in midfield, and dropped back to support the defence when the opposition had possession. The more experienced pairing of Nordtveit and Polanski operated in central midfield. A dangerous combination of Hack on the left, Ochs on the right and Zulj through the middle rounded off the side.

It didn’t take long for Nagelsmann to change his tactical tune, however, as Nordtveit remained in defensive midfield while Polanski moved further forward into more of an attacking role. Nagelsmann was forced into his first substitution in the 56th minute as well, when the brilliant Ochs was forced off with injury. Meris Skenderovic replaced him in attack. The second change came in the 70th minute, when Zulj made way for Johannes Bühler. The final change came a mere six minutes later - David Otto came on for Robin Hack up front.