Hoffenheim vs. Borussia Dortmund: Winners and Losers from Bundesliga Game

Borussia Dortmund were held to a 1-1 draw against a revitalised Hoffenheim side on Wednesday night in a match that felt like two points dropped rather than one point gained. 

The home side had been one of the Bundesliga's most out-of-form sides prior to the Rhein-Neckar Arena clash, yet it was Thomas Tuchel's team which looked laboured and out of ideas for much of the game. 

Sebastian Rudy, the German international who has recently moved from right-back to attacking midfielder, grabbed the opening goal in the 42nd minute with a well-worked move and finish, before Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored the equaliser early in the second half. 

There was a point apiece for each side in a match that Dortmund fans will undoubtedly look back on with some regrets. 

Winner: Markus Gisdol

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The key point from this game from a Hoffenheim point of view was undoubtedly the point that they picked up from what initially seemed like an automatic defeat. 

With just one point from five games prior to Wednesday's draw with Dortmund, manager Markus Gisdol and his side were under immense pressure to turn things around before the club began looking for excuses. 

Alas, a single point may not do too much for their current position in the league table, but the amount of confidence it will give this young, talented side is unquestionably huge. 

Winner: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

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Although this match will go down as something of a disappointment for Dortmund fans, there was one bright spark of enjoyment from the match. 

Trailing in the match, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang equalised for his side in the 55th minute via a wonderfully chested through ball from Gonzalo Castro. Yet more importantly, the goal meant that the Gabon striker had scored in the first six league games of the season—which had never been done before. 

It was a minor yet significant achievement for this ever-improving striker, despite his team's final result.

Winner: Eduardo Vargas

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When Hoffenheim signed Eduardo Vargas from Queens Park Rangers during the summer, a number of fans and commentators sat up and took notice. 

The Chilean forward has always been regarded as an exceptional talent, and it seems that for just €5 million that the club had found a replacement for Roberto Firmino for a fraction of the price. 

Indeed, despite a slow start to the new season, we are beginning to see the best of Vargas in a Hoffenheim shirt, as he set up the only goal for his side on Wednesday night and played some part in the draw. 

Loser: Bundesliga Title Race

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OK, so it may only be late September, yet this result now means that Bayern Munich have moved two points clear at the top of the table. 

Although Dortmund fans would quickly point out that neither they nor Tuchel ever suggested a title race was on the cards, such a result undoubtedly comes as a blow to neutrals around the world who had hoped they would be able to keep pace with the Bavarian giants a little longer. 

Of course, there are plenty of twists and turns between now and May, yet these kind of results on the road tend to be what make or break a title challenge. And on Wednesday night, Dortmund failed to overcome this one against Hoffenheim.