Hoffenheim make it six Bundesliga losses in Europe

Ludogorets 2-1 Hoffenheim

Dyakov 46',Lukoki 72'; Kaderabek 2'

Possible Bayern Munich target Julian Nagelsmann became the sixth Bundesliga coach out of six to lose in Europe this week after Hoffenheim let the lead slip in a 2-1 defeat at Ludogorets.  

After Champions League defeats for Bayern, Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig were followed by Europa League reverses for Cologne and Hertha Berlin, the pressure was on Hoffenheim not to make it a six-star drubbing for German sides in European competition.

Pavel Kaderabek settled any early Hoffenheim nerves in just the second minute when he tapped in following nice build-up play.

The game then drifted and failed to flow but that perfectly suited Hoffenheim against the surprisingly timid Bulgarian champions.  

But the hosts hit back straight after halftime when Hoffenheim failed to deal with a cross and Svetoslav Dyatov scored with a fine finish.

Lukas Rupp should have put the visitors back in front but fired over and he was made to pay when Jody Lukoki curled the ball sublimely into the top corner after cutting into the box.  

It is the first time since 1981 that six German teams have lost inside three days in Europe. Hoffenheim are bottom of Group C on no points having lost at home to group leaders Braga on Matchday 1. 

Nagelsmann, whose unfashionable side are second in the Bundesliga having finished fourth last term, was asked before and after the game about rumors linking him with Bayern following Carlo Ancelotti’s sacking.

"I have not concerned myself with it, I do not get involved in speculation," he told Sport1 TV.

In a recent interview, the coach made clear that coaching Bayern one day would be his dream job.

Bayern assistant Willy Sagnol has taken over as caretaker for Sunday’s game at Hertha.

 

See our live blog from the three German Europa League games below.

FT Ludogorets 2-1 Hoffenheim. All six German sides in European action this week have lost. Incredible.

86 - Half a shout for a Hoffenheim spotkick but referee not interested

83 - Common theme here from this week for German teams (Cologne apart to be fair). Hoffenheim have gone behind and are doing very little to get back into it

73 - Stunning strike from Jody Lukoki right into the top corner. But now all SIX Bundesliga teams have lost or are losing this week in Europe. 

72 -GOAL 2-1 to Ludogorets!

67 - Lukas Rupp misses a golden opportunity for Hoffenheim!

60 - The Bulgarians now on top. Old adage, Hoffenheim scored too early. Could all six Bundesliga clubs lose in Europe this week?

Hoffenheim did not adequately deal with a cross into the box but it is a superb finish from Dyakov 

46 - Immediate equalizer for Ludogorets! 1-1

Back underway. What have the Bulgarian champions got for Hoffenheim?

HT. Ludogorets 0-1 Hoffenheim. All very dull but that suits Hoffenheim nicely

 

14 - Comfortable so far for Hoffenheim. if Nagelsmann is the only Bundesliga coach to win this week, his stock will go even higher. Not many from Sinsheim in Bulgaria though to cheer him on.

2 - Pavel Kadeřábek with a tap-in after good build-up. Will Nagelsmann's men end the pattern?

2 - GOAL to Hoffenheim!

All eyes on Hoffenheim now as they visit Bulgaria. Tricky atmosphere and will Nagelsmann be thinking about the Bayern job?

So all four German teams to have played so far in Europe this week have lost. Bayern's defeat cost Carlo Ancelotti his job. What about Peter Stöger? To be fair Cologne gave it a good crack second half.

FT Cologne 0-1 Red Star Belgrade, despite Sorensen going close late on

FT - Ostersund 0-1 Hertha Berlin

90 - Into stoppage time at both games

83 - Both Hertha and Cologne still behind. Cologne done a bit more than Hertha to get back into the game. Not a good week at all for German clubs in Europe.

68 - Jojic hits the post again for Cologne, still 1-0 down

70 - Hertha just not showing enough to get back into this game

58- Jojic hits the woodwork for Cologne

57 - The Swedes very close to another there

55 - Ibisevic shoots across goal and is close to an equalizer for Hertha.

46 - Bittencourt has come on for Cologne in place of Mere - Stöger desperate for inspiration. Osako also on for Guirassy

Back underway in Sweden

Great shot by the Red Star player to be fair. At least the goal lit up the game rather than too many flares.

HALFTIME - OSTERSUND 1-0 HERTHA,  COLOGNE 0-1 RED STAR: Not a good night so far for the Germans

44 - COLOGNE CLOSE! Jojic takes a shot from about 20 meters and the ball goes just wide! FC waking up...

30 - GOAL TO RED STAR: Boakye with the goal after more poor Cologne defending. How often have we said that this term? 1-0 to the visitors.

25 - Still Cologne 0-0 Red Star

23- Penalty dispatched by Nouri after Torunarigha was adjudged to have handled. Hertha 1-0 down away from home. 

23 - GOAL TO OSTERSUND

20 - Remember that Ostersund, in their first ever European campaign, beat Galatasaray and PAOK in qualifying. No mugs. It was their first ever top-flight Swedish season last term yet they won the Swedish Cup.

13 - Hertha very much on top here and Valentino Lazaro comes the closest to scoring so far with Ibisevic then denied with the follow-up

8 - Red Star arguably on top so far in Cologne. Two half chances

7 - The artificial pitch in Ostersund isn't causing Hertha any problems. Esswein with a decent chance 

5 - Of course this is Cologne's first European home game in 25 games. Little goalmouth action so far.

2- Flares were lit inside the stadium in Cologne before the start but nothing more serious so far

1- Kicked off in Cologne and Sweden 

How much do Cologne want a victory? Well six games into the Bundesliga and they have zero wins...and they lost to Arsenal in that controversial encounter last time out in the Europa League. Fans are behaving so far but Red Star have a bit of a reputation so we will monitor it for you. Some flares have been lit by Serbian supporters on the way to the stadium and police are very much in attendance.

Here are the line-ups.