MX23RW : Sunday, December 15 14:19:14| >> :120:13834:13834:
[monks data]
Attendance: 31,500
Hoffenheim logo
Bundesliga | Gameweek 18
Jan 18, 2019 at 7.30pm UK
 
Bayern logo

1-3

Schulz (59')
FT(HT: 0-2)
Goretzka (34', 45'), Lewandowski (87')

Bayern boss Niko Kovac hails 'sensational' first-half during Hoffenheim win

Bayern boss Niko Kovac hails 'sensational' first-half during Hoffenheim win
© Reuters
Leon Goretzka scored a first-half brace to set Bayern on their way to victory.

Niko Kovac was full of praise for his side's "sensational" first-half performance as they closed the gap with table-toppers Borussia Dortmund to three points following a 3-1 win at Hoffenheim.

A first-half Leon Goretzka brace set up Bayern's first victory away at Hoffenheim since August 2015.

Nico Schulz expertly pulled one back for the home side, nodding past a defender to set up a shot which he fired past Manuel Neuer from outside the penalty area.

However, Bayern's two-goal lead was restored by Robert Lewandowski three minutes from time with the Poland international striker slotting in Thomas Muller's cross to record his 11th goal of the season.

Speaking about his side's performance, Kovac told the club's official website: "The first half was sensational. That's what we can do.

"The result is good, we started well from the back and have built up pressure."

The Bayern head coach also set his sights on toppling Dortmund at the end of the season, he added: "We are the pursuers and want to hunt down BVB. The key is that we end up at the top."

Goretzka echoed his coach on the title race, adding: "We played in the first half of the season so that we were six points behind. Now we are the hunters.

"All in all, we delivered a good fight. In the first half it was a great game from us," the two-goal midfielder added.

"Things got a bit hectic in the second half but when we completed the counter attack (for the third goal), the game was decided.

"We wanted to start well in the second half and it was important to play a good game."

Hoffenheim head coach Julian Nagelsmann admitted the Bavarian side deserved to win and was critical of his side's first-half performance.

"The first half was scary of us, the second was good. In the first half we were weak and anxious, hiding a lot and showing little aggressiveness," he said.

"Defensively we had little courage. We changed over during the break. We can be satisfied with the second half. In the end, Bayern deserved to win."

ga('create', 'UA-72310761-1', 'auto', {'name': 'pacontentapi'});
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'referrer', location.origin);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension1', 'By Press Association Sport staff');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension2', '72781986-c1d9-48e4-9dc3-3143385abbac');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension3', 'paservice:sport,paservice:sport:football,paservice:sport:match-reports,paservice:sport:uk,paservice:sport:world');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension6', 'story');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension7', 'composite');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension8', null);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension9', 'sport:football');
ga('pacontentapi.send', 'pageview', { 'location': location.href, 'page': (location.pathname + location.search + location.hash), 'title': 'Bayern boss Niko Kovac hails \u2018sensational\u2019 first-half during Hoffenheim win'});

ID:347246: cacheID:347246:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:4675:
Written by
P A
No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
6pm
Chiefs
@
Browns
6pm
Ravens
@
Giants
6pm
Jets
@
Jags
6pm
Cowboys
@
Panthers
6pm
Washington
@
Saints
6pm
Dolphins
@
Texans
6pm
Bengals
@
Titans
9.25pm
Colts
@
Broncos
9.25pm
Patriots
@
Cardinals
9.25pm
Buccaneers
@
Chargers
9.25pm
Steelers
@
Eagles
9.25pm
Bills
@
Lions
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Bayern MunichBayern14103142123033
2Bayer LeverkusenB. Leverkusen1485132201229
3Eintracht FrankfurtFrankfurt1383233181527
4RB Leipzig137332114724
5Freiburg147342019124
6Mainz 05Mainz146442519622
7Werder Bremen146442224-222
8Wolfsburg146353125621
9Borussia DortmundDortmund136342420421
10Borussia MonchengladbachBorussia M'bach146352319421
11Stuttgart135532623320
12Union BerlinUnion Berlin144551315-217
13Augsburg144461627-1116
14Hoffenheim133461825-713
15St Pauli143291119-811
16Heidenheim133191728-1110
17Holstein Kiel1412111437-235
18VfL BochumVfL Bochum1403111135-243


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!