LEIPZIG, Germany (AP) — Brajan Gruda and Christoph Baumgartner both scored twice in a first-half blitz as Leipzig overran Hoffenheim 5-0 on Friday and seized the momentum in a ding-dong battle for a spot in next season's Champions League.
The Bundesliga top four qualify for the Champions League and Leipzig started the night fifth, three points behind Hoffenheim.
But it seized the initiative in spectacular fashion and took the lead with its first real attack of the match.
With 17 minutes gone, Hoffenheim goalkeeper Oliver Baumann could not hold Rômulo’s shot and it fell to Gruda, the midfielder on loan from Brighton, to poke the ball in from close range.
Four minutes later, Baumgartner made it two, when he flew in at the back post to header home a cross from David Raum.
The Austrian striker looked dangerous in and around the Hoffenheim penalty box and he scored his second and Leipzig’s third after half an hour with a superb piece of finishing. The former Hoffenheim player chested down Gruda’s long ball and volleyed it past Baumann as he fell to the ground.
Gruda then put the game firmly beyond the visitor’s reach when he made it 4-0 a minute before halftime.
Leipzig defender Benjamin Henrichs rounded off the drubbing late in the second half.
Hoffenheim came into the match with a club record 50 points after 26 games but it missed talismanic midfielder Leon Avdullahu, who was absent from the lineup for the first time this season.
The result was its heaviest defeat of the season and, although it was equal with Leipzig on points, it fell into fifth.
Stuttgart was fourth and Leipzig now third.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Please purchase a Premium Subscription to continue reading.
To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account.
We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription.
A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means you’re helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much!
Only subscribers can view and post comments on articles.
Already a subscriber? Login Here
Puffs, or Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic, is a fas… Read moreAragon High School Theatre presents "Puffs"
Exclusive film screening in San Mateo Read moreA LITTLE FELLOW: THE LEGACY OF A.P.GIANNINI
Join us for an unforgettable evening as we set sail into the world of luxury river cruising!… Read moreLegendary Rivers & Tours Expo
Planning your dream wedding? Discover everything you need at the Wedding Fair in the Park – … Read moreWedding Fair in the Park
CA Is Burning said:
They ignored the danger, even after repeated complaints.
CA Is Burning said:
Dirk van Ulden said:
Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup.
Error! There was an error processing your request.
Sorry, an error occurred.
Already Subscribed!
Cancel anytime
Thank you .
Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in.
Check your email for details.
Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password.
An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account.
No promotional rates found.
Secure & Encrypted
Thank you.
Your gift purchase was successful! Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in.
| Rate: | |
| Begins: | |
| Transaction ID: |
A receipt was sent to your email.
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
Don't threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Anyone violating these rules will be issued a warning. After the warning, comment privileges can be revoked.