The three Kosovo players were once again protagonists for Hoffenheim. But this team lost at home to Mainz with a score of 2:1.
Saturday's match was the 28th round of the Bundesliga. For Hoffenheim, it was their second consecutive loss in the German top flight and their third match without a win.
Fisnik Asllani scored a superb goal for Hoffenheim, which however was not enough in the end.
The Kosovo striker scored from distance in the 23rd minute to make it 1:1. It was Asllan's ninth Bundesliga goal. He also had five assists. And Saturday's super goal only made a summer move to a top team even more likely for Asllan.
He left the field in the 61st minute. The 23-year-old had a very busy week, having appeared in Kosovo's two matches, against Slovakia and Turkey.
Leon Avdullahu was also activated in the 61st minute. The midfielder was absent from Kosovo's two World Cup playoff matches. And his absence was felt in the 1:0 loss to Turkey. The central midfielder had been absent from Hoffenheim's match against Leipzig on March 20, and returned from injury sooner than expected.
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Hoffenheim's Kosovars are defeated again
Another Kosovo representative, defender Albian Hajdari, started for Hoffenheim and completed the match. Hajdari played with a bandaged head due to the injury he suffered in Kosovo's match against Turkey. Hajdari suffered a fractured skull behind the ear. And the wound was closed with 16 stitches.
Although it was not expected, Hajdari trained with Hoffenheim on Friday and started on Saturday. He even had a dangerous header. He also suffered a blow to the head, but played until the end.
With the defeat, Hoffenheim has taken a step back in the race for Champions League qualification. It is in fifth place with 50 points. In fourth and last place that sends it to the Champions League is Leipzig with 53 points. Meanwhile, Bayer Leverkusen now has only one point less than Hoffenheim. It is in sixth with 49 points.
