- Kiel relinquishes the league championship to the taciturn supporters of Hoffenheim
Hoffenheim and Kramaric Hand Kiel their First Bundesliga Loss, Despite Fan Protests. The visitors fell short 2-3 (0-2) in a partially empty stadium at Sinsheim against the Europa League qualifiers. Kramaric exemplified with a penalty goal (6th minute) and two additional strikes (37/87) for the home side. Bernhardsson (63) and Machino (89) netted for the underdogs.
The audience at the southern stand was missing from the inaugural game due to tumultuous weeks. The club administration had warned of about 20 to 40 ultra supporters who could have caused the abandonment of the match with controversial banners. A banner now reads: "Game abandonment you desired, so as not to be the fool yourself," in reference to the fans' dissatisfaction with the club's recent personnel decisions.
Hoffenheim fans send a strong message to their club
The departure of all but a few members of the management team, led by long-term manager Alexander Rosen at the end of July, upset the Hoffenheim supporters. They also directed personal attacks against the club's shareholder Hopp on posters separately. The club has issued a public statement, stating that the situation has "escalated" and dialogue between the fanbase and the club has been suspended.
A banner reads: "Insulate yourself as a victim - abandon your own fans." Thousands of spectators entered the stadium, with only the visitors' block from Kiel providing any audible support. Adam Hlozek, Hoffenheim's former Leverkusen player, and the club's most expensive acquisition at around 18 million euros, led the charge. Second-division top scorer Haris Tabakovic from Hertha BSC was not included in the squad.
Kiel's head coach Marcel Rapp, a former junior coach at Hoffenheim, saw his team put under immediate pressure. Goalkeeper Timon Weiner fouled Marius Bülter in the penalty area after three minutes, which Kramaric converted.
Kiel had opportunities to score through Timo Becker and Benedikt Pichler in the final half-hour, but Oliver Baumann was unbeaten. Mostly, the performance of the Matarazzo-led team was better, utilizing the gaps left by the newcomers. Kramaric scored the 2-0 goal unhounded.
Bernhardsson heads in the 1-2
Captain Lewis Holtby attempted to give his team a decisive boost, but to no avail. Bülter missed a clear opportunity for a 3-0 goal after an hour, and Baumann prevented the equalizer by Machino with a quick save a few minutes later. Bernhardsson then scored the astonishing 1-2 goal, and although Kiel had a chance to re-equalize, Kelati was shown a yellow-red card in the 82nd minute. Kramaric scored his third goal before the final whistle, but Becker's attempt to tie the score at 2-2 fell short.
Despite the tension between the Ultras and the club administration, the Ultras still attended the game, filling only the visitors' block from Kiel. In the heat of the match, Kiel's head coach Marcel Rapp, a former junior coach at Hoffenheim, faced pressure from Hoffenheim, leading to Marius Bülter's foul in the penalty area and Marko Kramaric's subsequent penalty goal.
