Hoffenheim have been a team that has consisted of talented players that are poached by bigger clubs in the last couple of years with players such as Roberto Firmino and Niklas Süle finding success at Liverpool and Bayern Munich respectively having made their names at Hoffenheim. Next up for the Bundesliga club is 20-year-old Christoph Baumgartner who, in his first league campaign, contributed to 11 goals this season from a variety of attacking positions. Given his age and lack of experience in the top flight of Germany, many top European sides have yet to approach him but his performances this season have shown that there is a solid foundation in his play as well as some glimpses of future stardom.
This scout report will provide a tactical analysis of the Austrian’s contribution to Hoffenheim’s Bundesliga season that will showcase his output on both sides of the pitch.
Player profile
To begin this analysis, we need to look at Baumgartner’s player profile. He is essentially a modern-day number 10. He’s a technically proficient attacking midfielder who is capable of good defensive work with one of his best attributes being is great pressing. Under Alfred Schreuder, the 20-year-old’s variety in his skillset has meant that he has been deployed in several positions including appearances at striker and central midfield.
His heat map above showcases the territory that Baumgartner likes to operate in. It’s clear to see that he likes to operate in between the lines but isn’t a stationary target as shown by the fact he doesn’t just position himself in the central areas. This versatility in his positioning makes him a great asset for a team that likes to play fluid and attacking positions where the attacking players will have to be interchangeable. The graphic also highlights his positioning inside the box, an area which he often runs into. His positioning in the box is very central, which is very good since the chance and shot quality is much better in central positions.
Defence
We have already mentioned that one of Baumgartner’s strengths is his great pressing ability. As a midfielder in the modern-day, this is an important asset as more of the top teams around Europe have implemented a press in their style of play. His quality in pressing can be seen in his successful pressures per game, which is at a whopping 6.93. This is a tally that ranks him the 95th percentile out of attacking midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues, thus highlighting his prowess in this department. His commitment to winning the ball back for his teammates can be seen in other areas too. At 180cm, Baumgartner is a good size for a midfielder and his height gives him the confidence to challenge for 4.27 aerial duels per game, a solid figure. While his success rate is a measly 38%, it should be noted that he usually challenges the opposition defenders or defensive midfielders who tend to be bigger than him.
