It was a memorable day for Hoffenheim, which saw it’s impressive season reach a new high after earning its first ever Bundesliga victory over Bayern Munich in a 1-0 home win. Julian Nagelsmann’s side is having a stellar season in 2016-17 after barely escaping a relegation playoff a season ago.
In Tuesday’s showdown at the WIRSOL Rhein-Neckar-Arena, the hosts received a 21st-minute winner from forward Andrej Kramaric. The Croatian’s 10th league goal of the season was a beauty as his long-range right-footed effort found the top-left corner. Bayern came close to equalizing in the second-half through efforts from Robert Lewandowski and Franck Ribery, but the two were unable to beat Oliver Baumann in-goal.
The Hoffenheim keeper made five saves in the victory, while Sven Ulreich made three in the defeat for Bayern. Hoffenheim’s fifth consecutive home victory moved the club to within a point second place RB Leipzig. Bayern remains in first place even after suffering its first league defeat since Nov. 19.
Elsewhere, Borussia Dortmund cruised past Hamburg, while Schalke was shutout by Werder Bremen. In Spain, Athletic Bilbao made it back-to-back league wins after defeating Espanyol while, in England, Everton and Manchester United faced off at Old Trafford while Leicester hosted Stoke at the King Power Stadium.
Here is a rundown of all Tuesday’s European action:
ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE
Manchester United earned a late 1-1 draw at Old Trafford on Tuesday thanks to a 94th-minute penalty kick by Zlatan Ibrahmovic. The Swedish striker earned the opportunity after Luke Shaw’s volley was handled by Ashley Williams inside the box. The Welsh defender also saw a straight red card for denying a goal-scoring opportunity. Everton received a 26th-minute opener from defender Phil Jagielka who tapped home from a corner-kick. Manchester United only had three shots on goal, but saw both Ander Herrera and Paul Pogba strike the crossbar on separate occasions. Everton missed out on the opportunity to leapfrog Manchester United in the standings, and remain in seventh. Jose Mourinho’s men remain in fifth, now four points behind the top-four.
Leicester City made it six straight victories in all competitions under caretaker manager Craig Shakespeare with a 2-0 home win over Sunderland on Tuesday. Despite only two shots on goal in the first half, Leicester got a 69th-minute header from Islam Slimani which opened the scoring. Jamie Vardy’s ninth goal of the season, added to Leicester’s lead just nine minutes later.
Watford made it consecutive league wins after a 2-0 home win over West Bromwich Albion Tuesday evening. Walter Mazzarri’s side kicked off the scoring after 13 minutes as M’Baye Niang curled home his second goal for the club. Nacer Chadli’s 41st-minute free-kick struck the left post, which was the visitors best first-half opportunity. Troy Deeney slotted home Watford’s second goal in the 49th minute which extended their lead to 2-0. Despite being reduced to 10-men in the 65th minute after Miguel Britos earned a second yellow card, Watford hung on for an important three points. The hosts move up to ninth, while West Brom remain in eighth.
Burnley earned their first home victory since New Years Eve after defeating Stoke City, 1-0. A 58th minute goal from George Boyd proved to be the winner as the Clarets continued their dominant home form. Both of Stoke’s shots on goal came in the first-half, while the visitors also had a hand-ball claim denied by referee Kevin Friend. Sean Dyche’s side moved to 12th-place with the win, while Stoke sit in 11th, only a point better off.
Here are all of Tuesday’s Premier League results:
Manchester United 1 – Everton 1
Leicester City 2 – Sunderland 0
Watford 2 – West Bromwich Albion 0
Burnley 1 – Stoke City 0
SPANISH LA LIGA
Atletico Madrid remains in third-place thanks to a 1-0 home win over European hopefuls Real Sociedad. Felipe Luis’ left-footed finish after 28 minutes gave the hosts a 1-0 lead they wouldn’t lose. Sociedad only mustered one shot on target, while Atletico had eight. Sociedad keeper Geronimo Rulli made seven saves in the defeat, which is the side’s third in their last four matches. Atletico have now won three straight, heading into Saturday’s Madrid Derby at Real Madrid.
In Spain’s early match of the day, Athletic Bilbao received a brace from Aritz Adruiz to defeat Espanyol, 2-0, at home. The 36-year-old opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 17th minute after Muniain drew a foul from Victor Sanchez. The Spanish striker doubled his tally and Bilbao’s lead in the 37th-minute as he finished a left-footed effort from inside the box. The visitors only could muster two efforts on goal in their first defeat since Mar. 4th. Athletic Bilbao move to sixth, while Espanyol remain in ninth.
Despite seeing two shots strike the post, Villarreal earned a 1-0 victory at Real Betis to snap a two-match losing streak. Adrian’s first goal of the season was all the visitors needed to earn three points. The striker’s close-range finish early in the second-half proved to be the match-winner. Adrian had seen his earlier header strike the left post before halftime, while Cedric Bakambu’s 86th-minute effort hit the right post. Villarreal keeper Andres made three saves in the clean sheet. Betis have now lost back-to-back matches, which sees them stay in 14th. Villarreal jump to fifth
Athletic Bilbao 2 – Espanyol 0
Real Betis 0 – Villarreal 1
Atletico Madrid 1 – Real Sociedad 0
GERMAN BUNDESLIGA
Borussia Dortmund made it four matches unbeaten after a 3-0 beatdown of Hamburg at Signal Iduna Park. Gonzalo Castro’s 13th minute free kick opened the scoring for Thomas Tuchel’s side which had the hosts up 1-0. Bobby Wood’s long-range effort was Hamburg’s best effort in the opening half. Shinji Kagawa extended Dortmund’s lead to 2-0 in the 81st-minute before Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang capped the score at 3-0 in stoppage-time. Hamburg’s Rene Adler made seven saves in the loss, while Dortmund’s Roman Burki made six in the clean sheet. Hamburg suffered their first league defeat since Feb. 25 while Dortmund sit a point off third-place.
Cologne moved to fifth-place on Tuesday thanks to a 1-0 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt at home. Milos Jolic’s 51st-minute finish proved to be the winner as the Serbian rifled home from long-range. Frankfurt’s Ante Rebic saw his 26th-minute header strike the bar which was the visitors best chance towards goal. Koln only had one effort on-goal, while Frankfurt mustered two. Koln bounced back from a 2-1 defeat at Hamburg last Saturday, while Frankfurt stay in seventh-place.
Werder Bremen made it three wins in a row after a 3-0 pummeling of Schalke on Tuesday. An 80th-minute header from Maximilian Eggestein capped off a great day for the hosts who jumped up to eighth with the home triumph. Max Kruse’s 76th-minute penalty kick goal added insurance for the hosts who made the most of their offensive chances. Theodor Selassie’s 24th-minute header opened the scoring for Bremen, while Schalke only had three shots on goal in the match. Schalke drop to 10th place, while Bremen continue their strong run of form.
Here are all of Tuesday’s Bundesliga results:
Borussia Dortmund 3 – Hamburg SV 0
F.C. Koln 1 – Eintracht Frankfurt 0
Werder Bremen 3 – Schalke 04 0
1899 Hoffenheim 1 – Bayern Munich 0
ITALIAN COPPA ITALIA
Despite a valiant effort from the hosts, Lazio edged out rivals Roma, 4-3, on aggregate in Tuesday’s semifinal second leg to book their spot in the Coppa Italia final. Sergej Milinkovic-Savic’s right-footed finish gave Lazio a 1-0 lead after 37 minutes before Stephan El Shaarawy’s seventh goal in all competitions gave Roma some life heading into halftime. Ciro Immobile re-extended Lazio’s lead, finishing off Savic’s assist in the 56th minute. Mohamed Salah drew Roma to within two goals on aggregate, netting from inside the box in the 66th minute. Salah made things interesting, pulling Roma to within one in stoppage-time, but the hosts couldn’t complete the comeback.
Despite winning on the day, Roma fell 4-3 on aggregate after Lazio’s two goals in March’s first leg. Lazio will await the winner of Napoli-Juventus, who face off in their second leg on Wednesday. Juventus lead 3-1 on aggregate.
Roma 3 – Lazio 2 (Lazio advances on aggregate 4-3)
Glad my Foxes are back winning again.