Hoffenheim have retained their spot in the Bundesliga courtesy of a 5-2 aggregate win over Kaiserslautern in the relegation playoff this evening.
Hoffenheim took a 3-1 lead into tonight's second leg before triumphing 2-1 on the night to ensure their top-flight status for at least another season.
The visitors had a golden chance to take the lead just before the half-hour mark when Fabian Johnson, Sejad Salihovic and Roberto Firmino combined to send Kevin Volland through on goal, only for the striker to be brought down by goalkeeper Tobias Sippel.
Sippel redeemed himself straight away, however, tipping Salihovic's resulting penalty onto the bar and over.
Hoffenheim did break the deadlock just before half time when Salihovic's header was parried by Sippel only as far as David Abraham, who followed in to head home.
The first real chance for the hosts came in the 53rd minute when Alexander Baumjohann's corner was met by Albert Bunjaku at the back post, but he headed his effort into the ground and wide.
Volland then had a good chance to double his side's lead having been played through by Firmino, but he shot straight at Sippel.
Kaiserslautern gave themselves a slither of hope in the 65th minute when Baumjohann curled a delightful free kick into the top corner from 30 yards to level the scores on the night.
The hosts thought that they had scored a quickfire second just two minutes later, but Mohammadou Idrissou's header was controversially ruled out for offside.
Hoffenheim secured the aggregate win 15 minutes from time when Jannik Vestergaard rose highest in the box to nod Tobias Weis's corner past Sippel.
Barney Corkhill
