Hoffenheim still unbeaten after Frankfurt draw

BERLIN: Hoffenheim maintained their unbeaten record in the German Bundesliga this season after a 0-0 draw away to Eintracht Frankfurt in a spiky encounter at the Commerzbank Arena on Friday.

Julian Nagelsmann’s side have won six and drawn eight of their 14 league games this season and remain fourth in the table, above Eintracht on goal difference and a point behind Hertha Berlin, who host Werder Bremen on Saturday evening.

Eintracht, who finished the game with 10 men after Timothy Chandler was sent off late on, are on an impressive run themselves and have now gone eight matches without losing.

Both clubs can be leapfrogged by Borussia Dortmund if Thomas Tuchel’s men win at Cologne on Saturday.

Hoffenheim’s achievements under their 29-year-old coach Nagelsmann have been overshadowed by RB Leipzig, whose own unbeaten start to the campaign sees them sit top of the table, three points clear of defending champions Bayern Munich.

Nagelsmann’s young side had beaten Cologne 4-0 in their last outing but could not break down a mean Frankfurt defence in a game of few chances.

Alexander Meier twice forced saves from Oliver Baumann in the first half while Benjamin Huebner found the net with a header for the visitors on the stroke of half-time only to be denied by the offside flag.

This game, though, will be best remembered for a shocking elbow by Frankfurt defender David Abraham on Sandro Wagner that went unpunished. — AFP