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| Bernardo of VfL Bochum holds the ball whilst under pressure from Ihlas Bebou of TSG 1899 Hoffenheim during the Bundesliga match between TSG Hoffenheim and VfL Bochum 1848 at PreZero-Arena on December 08, 2023 in Sinsheim, Germany. |
Hoffenheim have easily beaten Bochum 3-1 at home to make sure they finish matchday 14 in sixth spot in the Bundesliga.
An own goal from Erhan Masovic set the hosts on their way and striker Andrej Kramaric added the second just before the break with a fine finish.
It was the Croatia international's fifth goal of the league season and helped end a run of four games without a win in the Bundesliga.
Substitute Ihlas Bebou also headed home in the second half before Goncalo Paciencia's late consolation.
Hoffenheim, who recorded just their second home victory of the league campaign, are just two points behind fifth-placed Borussia Dortmund who host RB Leipzig in Saturday's late game.
The south-westerners have twice finished in the Bundesliga top four under Julian Nagelsmann in 2017 and 2018, but only qualified once for the Champions League group stage.
Bochum stay 12th but could be overhauled in Saturday's main program of matches. The visitors had previously gone five games without defeat in the Bundesliga.
Champions Bayern Munich visit Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday knowing a win will take them top pending Bayer Leverkusen's trip to third-placed VfB Stuttgart on Sunday.