Opposition Form Report: Hoffenheim, Man. City, CSKA Moskva Drop Crucial Points

Bundesliga

TSG 1899 Hoffenheim (3-4) 1. FC Köln

1-0 HOF: Ádam Szalai (2')
1-1 KOL: Paweł Olkowski (5')
1-2 KOL: Matthias Lehmann (12')
1-3 KOL: Anthony Ujah (35')
2-3 HOF: Roberto Firmino (39')
3-3 HOF: Roberto Firmino (45')
3-4 KOL: Paweł Olkowski (83')

When one sees how the match played out, it is easy to assume that this is the same Hoffenheim that wilted in the later stages of the Bundesliga. The reality is that it took spectacular goals from Olkowski and Lehmann to really put the game out of hand. Roberto Firmino went into beast mode, making all the right movements to get Hoffenheim back into the contest. Still, the seven goals in the last two matches raises the question of whether Ermin Bičakčić, Tobias Strobl, or Sebastian Rudy are qualified to contain the fluid Bayern attack.

Hoffenheim (4-2-3-1): Baumann – Strobl, Süle, Bičakčić (Rudy 70'), Beck – Polanski, Schwegler (Schipplock 81') – Volland, Roberto Firmino, Elyounoussi (Zuber 81') – Szalai

Hoffenheim vs Köln (3-4) Full Highlights 08/11... by rubin7190

UEFA Champions League

Queens Park Rangers (2-2) Manchester City

1-0 QPR: Charlie Austin (21')
1-1 MCFC: Sergio Agüero (32')
1-2 QPR: Martín Demichelis (OG 76')
2-2 MCFC: Sergio Agüero (83')

As impressive as their movement in the attacking area is, the defensive ineptitude is dragging their multi-front campaign behind. Vincent Kompany was out with a calf strain, but it is amazing how exposed the defense is at times without him in the side. Luckily for them, Agüero bailed them out with two spectacular goals. Dropped points like these have left them already eight points behind a soaring Chelsea, and they have a lot to prove if they want their Champions League chances to stay alive.

Man. City XI (4-2-3-1): Hart – Sagna, Demichelis, Mangala, Clichy – Fernando, Fernandinho – Jesús Navas, Touré, Nasri – Agüero

Queens Park Rangers vs Manchester City 2-2... by MRLooka

Dinamo Moskva (1-0) CSKA Moskva

1-0 DIM: Aleksandr Kokorin (54')

The effort that the quick-jabbing attack of Leonid Slutsky was ultimately for not. They simply could not finish the scoring chances that they created themselves, and poor clearances exposed them enough to allow Kokorin to find the back of the net. The performance might be excusable merely because they were able to down Manchester City on the road a few days prior, but CSKA's quest for a consecutive title could be coming to an end.

CSKA XI (4-2-3-1): Akinfeev – Mário Fernandes, V. Berezutski, Ignashevich, Schennikov (Milanov 74') – Natcho, Wernbloom – Musa (Tošić 64'), Eremenko, Dzagoev – Doumbia

Aleksandr Kokorin 1-0 - Dinamo Moscow - CSKA... by mouhib-boukhchim

DFB-Pokal

FC Erzgebirge Aue (1-2) Eintracht Braunschweig 

0-1 EBS: Ryu Sueng-Woo (9')
1-1 AUE: Arvydas Novikovas (PG 43')
1-2 EBS: Vegar Eggen Hedenstad (59')

Don't look now, but Braunschweig has slowly worked their way back into the promotion race. Whether they are viable is another question entirely. Aue had a strong hold over the entire match, and Braunschweig unraveled them with a break and a deflected shot. The 20 goals they have scored this season is among the leaders in a low-scoring 2. Bundesliga, but so is the 17 they have allowed.

Braunschweig XI (4-4-2): Gikiewicz – Kessel, Marcel Correia, Reichel, Hedenstadt – Korte, Theuerkauf, Boland, Zuck – Kruppke (Pfitzner 86'), Ryu (Bakenga 78')