Nagelsmann’s varied attacking approach hands wasteful Hoffenheim valuable win

With just one win in their previous 10 league fixtures, Hoffenheim had slipped to ninth position in the Bundesliga before this game. Their poor spell had left them eight points off the Champions League spots, with Julian Nagelsmann’s future club RB Leipzig currently occupying fourth.

Hoping to turn around their own form, relegation-threatened Hannover were the visitors on Saturday. Despite having different ambitions, both teams went into this clash desperate for points in their bids to turn around their respective campaigns. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the home side came out on top, recording a 3-0 victory. This analysis will dissect how Hoffenheim managed to return to winning ways.

Lineups

As per usual, Nagelsmann’s side lined up with three at the back. Kerem Demirbay and Nadiem Amiri were deployed at the base of the midfield, but both had license to roam between the lines at different times. The positional play of the front three was fluid, and formed in accordance with where the space was at any given moment in the game. Wing-backs Nico Schulz and Pavel Kaderabek provided most of Hoffenheim’s width.

Hannover matched the home team’s formation, with a midfield duo of Marvin Bakalorz and Walace flanked by Julian Korb and Matthias Oztrzolek. Genki Haraguchi was deployed behind the strike force of Nicolai Muller and Jonathas. Former Tottenham centre-back Kevin Wimmer lined up on the left side of a back three.

Hannover pressed during build-up

With the away team committed to building from the back, Hoffenheim deployed a high-press to prevent clean progressions from the first phase. They combined man-orientated pressure with angled approaches to shut off the route for an out-ball. The image below shows Nagelsmanns attack pressing from the front in the opening seconds of the game. The goalkeeper is forced to play a hopeful long ball, with no short-passing options available.

Despite the obvious risks attached to playing out against pressure, Hannover continued to try to build through the thirds. Hoffenheim also continued with their approach, with the attackers all retaining access to a man while blocking off potential passing lanes. As well as forcing them long, they were able to force mistakes.

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