Kramaric leads Hoffenheim to victory against Hannover
TSG beat Hannover 96 3-1 on Matchday 32 of the 2017/18 Bundesliga season. Andrej Kramaric scored a hattrick to secure the three points for the home side. Kenan Karaman scored for the guests before the break.
Squad and tactics:
TSG head coach Julian Nagelsmann had a depleted squad for Friday's match against Hannover 96 with Florian Grillitsch out suspended and Benjamin Hüber still injured. Kerem Demirbay and Havard Nordtveit came into the starting eleven to replace them. Oliver Baumann, Pavel Kaderabek, Nico Schulz, Nadiem Amiri, Mark Uth, Kevin Vogt, Kevin Akpoguma, Andrej Kramaric and Serge Gnabry made up the rest of the starting eleven.
Akpoguma, Vogt and Nordtveit started as a back-three in front of goalkeeper Baumann. Kaderabek and Schulz started on the wings, whilst Demirbay, Amiri and Gnabry were positioned in central midfield. Uth and Kramaric began the match upfront.
TSG were forced into making a substitution as early as the 19th minute. Serge Gnabry injured his thigh in the build-up to the opening goal and was not able to continue. Steven Zuber came on to replace him in central midfield. Hoffenheim made a second substitution in the 62th minute - Mark Uth left the pitch and was replaced by Adam Szalai. Just five minutes later, Kerem Demirbay picked up a knock and Ermin Bicakcic came on in his place.