Hoffenheim have retained their Bundesliga status, after beating Kaiserslautern in the relegation playoff.
Hoffenheim won 2-1 this evening, having triumphed 3-1 in the first leg last week.
The visitors were the better team in the first half, and despite missing a penalty, managed to take the lead through David Abraham.
In the second period, Hoffenheim came back strongly and after Alexander Baumjohann's excellent free-kick, they had a goal ruled out for offside and a good penalty shout turned down.
They also missed a couple of good chances, and were made to pay when Jannik Vestergaard headed in the winner from a corner.
See how all the action unfolded with Sports Mole's live coverage below.
Good evening and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the crucial Bundesliga relegation playoff match between Kaiserslautern and Hoffenheim.
This is the second leg between the Bundesliga side and their 2.Bundesliga counterparts, with Hoffenheim coming out on top in the first game last week.
Two Roberto Firmino goals and a second-half strike from Sven Schipplock inflicted Kaiserslautern's third loss in their previous 12 games.
Mohamadou Idrssou's consolation goal could be crucial though, and an early goal for the home side this evening could really put the pressure back on Hoffenheim.
A Kaiserslautern win is far from out of the question. They've recorded big wins over FSV Frankfurt and FC Koln at home this season, and in the first leg, they missed several chances to equalise before conceding a soft third goal.
With just 15 minutes to go to kickoff, let's get some team news...
KAISERSLAUTERN: Sippel; Thick, Torrejon, Drazan, Leo; Zellner, Borysiuk, Orban, Baumjohann; Idrissou, Bunjaku
HOFFENHEIM: Casteels; Beck, Abraham, Vestergaard, Thesker; Wies, Polanski, Salihovic; Volland, Firmino, Johnson.
So, Kaiserslautern have brought in Albert Banjaku up front, in place of Erwin Hoffer, and Steven Zellner for Mitchell Weiser, while Hoffenheim have made just one change, bringing Fabian Johnson back in for Sebastian Rudy.
Hoffenheim will have to guard against complacency this evening. Despite currently being the higher-ranked team, the 3-1 score probably flattered them slightly in the first leg, and they only avoided automatic relegation on the final Bundesliga day, with a win over Borussia Dortmund.
The players are in the tunnel and Kaiserslautern will be given a massive boost by their home crowd. The Fritz-Walter Stadion is sold out and understandably loud ahead of kickoff.
Hoffenheim get us underway...
A huge cheer greets the first Kaiserslautern touch, but it is immediately followed by whistles as the referee awards the away side a free kick on the halfway line, which goes harmlessly into the goalkeeper's arms.
The home side are trying to play their way out from defence, but are finding it difficult to pass the halfway line. When they finally do, Baumjohann's cross misses the head of Idrissou by inches and Hoffenheim clear.
The visitors have not come just to protect their lead, they're pressing Kaiserslautern at every chance, and win a free kick, 35 yards out in the middle of the goal. Salihovic goes for goal but curls the ball just wide.
Some neat interplay between Weis, Firmino and Beck on the right creates another good chance for Hoffenheim, but the home side clear and win a free kick juts outside their own box.
Idrissou isn't far away from meeting Baumjohann's corner, but the ball beats everyone and is collected by Beck, who clears.
Kaiserslautern's right-winger is seeing a lot more of the ball now as the home side start to gain a foothold in the game. A long throw is spilled by Casteels, but the goalkeeper gathers the ball at the second attempt ahead of Idrissou.
Baumjohann is brought down for the second time by Polanski as the home side look to attack. The referee gives a free kick but nothing else, much to the annoyance of the home crowd.
Wies wins a soft free kick out of Baumjohann, but Polanski wastes the chance and the home side clear the ball, before a mix-up at the back almost allows Firmino to sneak in and score.
The game is becoming a bit scrappy now, with several fouls committed in the midfield. Neither side is able to create much at the moment.
Just as I say that, Banjaku goes clear on the right and cuts the ball back towards Baumjohann, who runs over the ball but Idrissou is unable to get there ahead of his marker.
Hoffenheim break and Polanski plays Firmino through, who battles with Torrejon for the bouncing ball, but the defender comes out on top. Replays seem to show he may have handled the ball back to the goalkeeper.
Zellner picks up the ball on the edge of the box, but his wild effort goes high and wide.
PENALTY! A great move between Johnson, Salihovic and Firmino sees Volland played through in the box where the goalkeeper brings him down.
SAVE! The crowd goes absolutely wild as Sippel flings himself to his right and tips Salihovic's penalty on to the bar and over. Great save!
SUBSTITUTION: An early change for the away side as Rudy replaces Thesker, who has been booked.
Idrissou wins a throw-in in the corner but Hoffenheim clear Chris Lowe's throw, the home side win the ball back though, before breaking and winning a free kick on the edge of the away box after Banjaku was brought down by Johnson.
A clever routine sees the ball laid off for Lowe to hit, however Hoffenheim's defence blocks the ball, before blocking a second effort from Banjaku.
Banjaku skips past Beck on the left and runs into the box, where his cut-back is blocked. Hoffenheim clear the ball, but the home side regain possession in a period of dominance for them.
Baumjohann collects Banjaku's cross and fires the ball against the defender for a corner but the referee blows for a foul against Idrissou as the ball is delivered.
The ball breaks to Firmino in the middle of the Kaiserslautern half and the striker hits the ball well towards goal, but sees his effort drift just wide.
SAVE! Another good save from Sippel to deny Salihovic, who manages to flick Polanski's free kick towards goal.
GOAL! Kaiserslautern 0-1 Hoffenheim (David Abraham)
Another free kick is whipped in and headed towards goal by Salihovic. Again the goalkeeper saves but this time he doesn't manage to get the ball over the bar and Abraham comes in to head home.
HALF-TIME: Kaiserslautern 0-1 Hoffenheim
What a time to get a goal for the away side, crushing Kaiserslautern's spirit just before half time.
The goalkeeper might have been disappointed not to get the ball over the bar, but in truth it came at him very quickly and he did well to keep out the first effort, not to mention a previous Salihovic header and the penalty save!
Neither side has created many chances, but the quality play in the final third has come from Hoffenheim, and they will argue that they deserve the lead.
Kaiserslautern now need three goals without replay just to take the tie into extra time. It will be a difficult ask considering they've created very little in the first half, but an early goal could change the tide of the match.
An early goal could also get the crowd, who have backed their team loudly and continuously, back on side. On the other hand, another goal for Hoffenheim and this tie would effectively be over.
So far, Kaiserslautern have failed to provide Idrissou with any real service, it's just been long balls aimed at him. Their best chance of creating something in this half, is getting the ball wide and getting the ball to Baumjohann, who has probably been their best player.
The teams are back out for the second half and Kaiserslautern get us underway...
Idrissou nicks the ball off Abraham in the corner before fouling Beck. His arguments with the referee earn him a yellow card.
Baumjohann slips the ball into Banjaku in the box, but the striker is edged out of the challenge and the ball runs through to the goalkeeper, after a light-hearted penalty appeal.
Baumjohann skips away from Beck and tries to find Idrissou but the ball is cleared. The home side attack again, this time on the left but Banjaku loses the ball to Rudy. The game is becoming end-to-end as the home side push hard for an equaliser.
CHANCE! Baumjohann's corner is met at the back post by Banjaku, but the captain's free header bounces into the ground and wide.
SUBSTITUTION Kaiserslautern bring on another striker in Erwin Hoffer, who replaces Drazan.
CHANCE! Volland misses the chance to double Hoffenheim's lead but hits his shot straight at Sippel, after being played through by Firmino.
SUBSTITUTION Hoffenheim make another change, taking off their goalscorer Abraham for Niklas Sule.
Kaiserslautern are really pressing now, and are managing to find space on the wings, but Idrissou is too isolated in the middle, while Hoffenheim look dangerous on the break.
SUBSTITUTION Another change for the home side as Mitchell Weisser replaces Banjaku.
GOAL! Kaiserslautern 1-1 Hoffenheim (Baumjohann)
Excellent strike by the home side's best player, as Baumjohann steps up to curl a free-kick straight into the top corner from 30 yards out.
Kaiserslautern think they have another as Idrissou heads in Weisser's cross, but the linesman's flag is raised. The replays show it might have been a harsh decision, but a very close call.
The momentum is with the home side now, as Idrissou misses with a header before Borysiuk slips while shooting just wide from long range.
The Kaiserslautern players and fans appeal for a penalty as Idrissou is pulled down at the far post, but amazingly the referee gives the free-kick to Hoffenheim!
GOAL! Kaiserslautern 1-2 Hoffenheim (Vestergaard)
That could be that for Kaiserslautern as Vestergaard leaps highest to power Salihovic's corner into the bottom corner.
It's the Hoffenheim fans making most of the noise now as Kaiserslautern look beaten. They win a couple of free-kicks just outside the box but Baumjohann can't repeat his magic from earlier.
Idrissou controls the ball well on the edge of the area but over hits his pass as he looks to slip in Weisser.
The crowd show their displeasure as the referee stops play with a Hoffenheim player injured at each end of the pitch. They're both back on their feet pretty quickly and play resumes.
SUBSTITUTION Hoffenheim make their final change, bringigng on Sven Schipplock for Firmino.
A long kick from Sippel almost finds Idrissou but Casteels manages to punch the ball away. Kaiserslautern regain possession and win a corner but their short routine is undone by the offside flag.
FULL-TIME! Kasierslautern 1-2 Hoffenheim
So it's Hoffenheim who come out on top in the relegation playoff, retaining their Bundesliga status, while Kaiserslautern must remain in 2.Bundesliga.
The result is probably slightly harsh on the home side, who had a couple of good chances, a goal ruled out and an big penalty shout at 1-1, but in the end Hoffenheim managed to put their chances away.
Thanks for joining me and I hope you enjoyed the game, goodnight.
Written by
Daniel Cross
Daniel Cross
