In another UEFA Cup quarter-final that ended almost at the same time as the match between Hoffenheim and Werder Bremen, Hamburg defeated Premier League Manchester City 3-1 at home.
Although they conceded an away goal to their opponents, the combined score of two goals still makes Hamburg's promotion prospects much easier than Hoffenheim and Werder Bremen.
After returning to Hoffenheim from the away game with Werder Bremen, main defensive midfielder Gustavo unfortunately caught a cold and will definitely miss the next league game.
However, because of the draw with Bremen in the UEFA Cup away game, there is no guarantee of winning the second round after returning to the home court.
Therefore, Ralph had intended to rotate the players in the league between the two UEFA Cup quarter-finals, so that Gustavo, who had been a long-term starter and played the entire game, could have a rest.
On April 10, Bochum coach Kohler, who was ranked fifth from the bottom in the Bundesliga and only 2 points away from the relegation zone, led his team to Rhine-Neckar County.
At the pre-match press conference, Kohler said that Bochum would not care whether Hoffenheim's schedule was tight or whether they wanted to compete for the championship, they would just try their best to get points and avoid relegation.
This match between Hoffenheim and the fifth-to-last relegation team will not be easy.
Although relegation teams are relatively weak, at the end of any league season, when relegation teams are fighting hard to stay in the league, the games against them may be more difficult than those against championship teams.
Because the championship is only about honor, while the relegation battle is about life and death.
In order to save strength for the next UEFA Cup match against Werder Bremen, Hoffenheim cannot field all its main players in this match and must rotate them, which will make the match more difficult.
At 14:30 on April 11, with the referee's whistle, the 27th round of the 2008/2009 Bundesliga match between Hoffenheim and Bochum officially began at home.
Ralph made a large rotation in this game. Gustavo was resting due to a cold, so it was natural for Walsa to start as the sole defensive midfielder.
Then Copado and Eduardo played as double attacking midfielders, the formation was 433, and Salihovic sat on the bench, preparing for the next game.
On the forward line, Parjic and Demba Ba were substitutes, while the starters were Lu Wenbin, Sanogo and the returning Obasi.
Full-back Baker and goalkeeper Ozcan were also rotated.
Hoffenheim's strength declined seriously as most of the team's main players were rotated, giving Bochum, who was attacking desperately, many opportunities.
In the 11th minute, Bochum center forward Epale headed the ball into Hoffenheim's goal during a corner attack. Hoffenheim fell behind relegation team Bochum 0-1 at home.
However, Eduardo and Lu Wenbin, who cooperated well in the frontcourt, would not let Bochum have an easy time.
In the 18th minute, Eduardo forced the opponent's midfielder Imhoff to commit a foul through continuous breakthroughs in the frontcourt, giving Hoffenheim a free kick about 28 meters to the right of the goal.
Lu Wenbin, who had used up his system skills in a free kick before, could only take the penalty kick himself this time. However, as his free kick skills have become more mature and his physique has increased, his strength has increased, so the free kicks he takes are more threatening.
Lu Wenbin's free kick successfully passed the wall of people, drew an arc in the air and went into the upper right corner of the goal. Bochum goalkeeper Fernandez was unable to reach the ball and could only watch the ball go into the net.
For Lu Wenbin, scoring a free kick is nothing, but this goal has a different meaning because he is already very close to the record.
Therefore, the commentator of Sinsheim City TV, Kaster, still shouted "Toooooooooooooooor", and then excitedly explained to the Hoffenheim fans in front of the TV:
"Lu scored a direct free kick, his 39th Bundesliga goal of the season, and he is only one goal away from the legendary star Gerd Muller's single-season record of 40 Bundesliga goals. We are witnessing a new legend!"
At the scene, Hoffenheim's players surrounded Lu Wenbin and celebrated enthusiastically. Eduardo called on everyone to continue to create opportunities for Lu Wenbin, so that he could score another goal, match Muller, or even perform a hat trick to surpass Muller.
But Lu Wenbin shook his head and refused, telling everyone not to pass the ball to him deliberately, because there were two defensive players following him at all times, and if the opportunity was not good and the ball was intercepted, they would be counterattacked.
He hopes that his teammates will shoot when they have the chance, as this is the most crucial thing for the team to score goals.
As long as the team can win, what does it matter whether the record is broken or not
There are no rewards for breaking records, only rewards if the team wins or wins the championship.
However, having said that, Lu Wenbin's current achievements and prestige have made his teammates willing to serve as his supporting role and make contributions for him wholeheartedly.
In the 37th minute, Copado received a pass from Eduardo after an offside position and had a one-on-one chance. However, Copado did not shoot when facing goalkeeper Fernandez, but passed the ball to Lu Wenbin who was following closely behind him.
Because Lu Wenbin was behind Copado when he passed the ball, it was not considered offside.
Lu Wenbin easily scored the goal, and before he could celebrate, Copado rushed over excitedly and shouted, "You tied the record, Lu, you are on par with the bomber Gerd Muller!"
The other teammates also rushed over like crazy, pulled Lu Wenbin to the ground, and excitedly piled up like a pyramid.
Custer jumped up from the commentary booth and yelled with all his strength: "Toooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooor..."
After taking two breaths and shouting for more than half a minute, Caster finally stopped and excitedly announced to all the Hoffenheim fans in front of the TV:
"40 goals, 40 goals! Lu scored twice and scored his 40th Bundesliga goal of the season, tying the record of 40 Bundesliga goals in a single season set by bomber Gerd Muller in the 1971/1972 season! Now, the 18-year-old Lu is on par with the legend, and Hoffenheim will give birth to a legendary superstar!"
What appeared on the big screen at the scene was not the score of Hoffenheim leading Bochum 2-1 at home and the information of Lu Wenbin's goal, but photos of Lu Wenbin and Gerd Muller.
In the middle of the two people's half-length portrait is a big number "40", with "shoulder to shoulder with legends" written above their heads and the names of Lu Wenbin and Muller written below.
All the fans in the stands also stood up and applauded, cheering and paying tribute to Lu Wenbin, including the away fans of Bochum.
As for China, whether it is the commentators and guests in the CCTV live broadcast room, or the fans in front of the TV and computer, they are all in a frenzy.
At a time when Chinese football is in total decline and caught up in the constant scandals of cracking down on gangs and counterfeiting, there are still players like Lu Wenbin who can be compared with the legendary superstar Gerd Muller. This really makes many fans who truly love football feel relieved and happy.