BERLIN: Hoffenheim goalkeeper Oliver Baumann saved a second-half penalty – the third he has kept out this season – to secure a 1-1 home draw with Mainz in the Bundesliga on Sunday.
With the scores level and just over 20 minutes remaining, Aymen Barkok stepped up to the spot after VAR found contact in the box, but Baumann smothered the penalty.
Baumann holds the record among current Bundesliga goalkeepers with 13 penalty saves in his career.
He said his side could be "satisfied" but added that they had "made it too easy" for Mainz.
"We've got top-class players up front, we simply need to be more stable defensively," he told DAZN.
Mainz struck first, Marco Richter finishing off a superb counter late in the opening half, but Hoffenheim's Robert Skov levelled things up just after half-time.
Baumann was again called into action in the dying stages, getting his fingertips to a Mainz free kick and turning it onto the crossbar.
The draw keeps sixth-placed Hoffenheim in touch with the Champions League places, four points shy of fourth-placed Dortmund.
Mainz finish the round in the relegation playoff spot, having won just once from their opening 12 matches this season.
Earlier on Sunday, Heidenheim continued their solid home form in their debut first division season, holding Bochum to a scoreless draw.
Tim Kleindienst had a late chance to win it for the home side when he pounced on a poor back pass from Erhan Masovic, but he blasted his shot over the bar.
Heidenheim coach Frank Schmidt, who has been in charge of the club for a German-record 15 years, said the draw was "justified."
"It was a war of attrition and both teams defended well."
Heidenheim, officially the smallest club in Germany's top division, have now won three and drawn one of their six home games this season.
Fielding mainly youngsters and Bundesliga journeymen, Heidenheim have run ten kilometres more than any other first division team this campaign.
The draw leaves them one point and one place ahead of Bochum in 13th after 12 games. --AFP