Baumann penalty save initiates Hoffenheim rout
Sebastian Hoeneß's Kraichgauer have already broken Julian Nagelsmann's club record for European wins. A 4-1 defeat of KAA Gent sees them take maximum points from two Europa League matches.
An early penalty save from keeper Oliver Baumann propelled south Germany's Sinsheimers to a dominant performance over their Belgian hosts in East Flanders. Swiss referee Sandro Schärer pointed directly to the spot when Stefan Posch committed a 12th minute foul inside the box.
Striker Roman Yaremchuck strode confidently to the line, seemingly almost certain that he would tally against German opposition just as he did last year. Instead it was Baumann with the heroic save. The 30-year-old Hoffenheim skipper, who had missed out on the weekend encounter against Bremen with a stomach bug, guessed correctly and parried strongly.
The German visitors barely let the home side get a touch of the ball in thereafter. After Posch, Sebastian Rudy, Robert Skov, and Ihlas Bebou all missed early opportunities, Bebou earned a penalty when his close-range shot hit the hand of Gent center half Michael Ngadeu-Ngadjui. Ishak Belfodil converted in the 36th for his first goal of the 2020/21 cycle.
Hoeneß's men continued to dominate for the duration of the half immediately after the restart. Florian Grillitsch doubled the advantage in the 52nd after some solid possession work from Bebou. The Bundesliga side didn't relinquish control, with Belfodil setting up substitute Mijat Gacinovic for the 3rd in the 72nd and later substitutes Christoph Baumgartner and Yunus Dabbur combining at 90+3.
Moments before Dabbur's fourth, former Heidenheim and SC Freiburg striker Tim Kleindienst snatched a late consolation at 90+2.