Hoffenheim rise to third place after Hertha Berlin victory

Fabian Lustenberger came to Hertha's rescue early on, clearing Süle's header off the line from an early corner.

At the other end, an excellent save from Oliver Baumann turned Allan's shot from the edge of the penalty area wide with chances being created at both ends.

Lukas Rupp and Pavel Kaderabek both went close, the latter hitting the crossbar with a header, before Süle opened the scoring and his account for the season with a bullet header.

Vedad Ibisevic tested Baumann early in the second half as Hertha came out of the blocks better, but a little overzealousness in midfield allowed Hoffenheim to seek chances on the break, and Sandro Wagner nearly converted one of those opportunities with Rune Jarstein somehow managing to divert the ball behind.

Even with Salomon Kalou on as an additional striker, Hoffenheim continued to pose the greater threat with Andrej Kramaric denied from a tight angle before he wasted a glorious chance, but one goal proved enough for Hoffenheim to triumph.

Süle could have scored his first goal of the season in the opening minutes, but he stuck at it to become the first Hoffenheim defender to score this season, ensuring it was worth victory by doing what he is paid for and defending resolutely in the second half.

Süle's first Bundesliga goal in almost two years was Hoffenheim's third headed goal this season – last season they scored a total of five headed goals.

With perennial UEFA Champions League participants Borussia Dortmund, FC Schalke 04 and Bayer 04 Leverkusen faltering, this could possibly be the best chance yet for high-flying Hoffenheim to put themselves on the European map next season.

No player has been substituted in more times this season than Julian Schieber (eight times).

GERMANY Bundesliga

Yesterday Hoffenheim-Hertha Berlin ............... 1-0 1. FC Koln-Hamburger SV ................. 3-0

Standings

Bayern Munich RB Leipzig Hoffenheim 1. FC Koln Hertha Berlin Dortmund E. Frankfurt Freiburg Mainz B. Leverkusen B. M’gladbach Schalke Augsburg Darmstadt Werder Bremen Wolfsburg Ingolstadt Hamburger SV 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 7 6 5 5 5 4 4 5 4 4 3 2 2 2 2 1 0 0 2 3 4 3 2 3 3 0 2 1 3 2 2 2 1 3 2 2 0 23 5 0 17 6 0 17 10 1 16 6 2 14 10 2 20 10 2 13 8 4 13 13 3 16 15 4 13 13 3 10 12 5 10 11 5 8 14 5 8 17 6 11 24 5 6 13 7 7 19 7 2 18 23 21 19 18 17 15 15 15 14 13 12 8 8 8 7 6 2 2