Darmstadt and Hoffenheim couldn't be separate on Saturday afternoon, as both side's picked up a head-earned point.
Stale start to proceedings
It was an even opening in Darmstadt and both sides had half-chances to go ahead. A series of Hoffenheim corners offered little for the big men from the back to attack but Konstantin Rausch fired wildly over with the Lilies' opening attempt. Mark Uth went closer still soon after and his effort went narrowly wide of the mark, while Christian Mathenia struggled to get across to cover.
Hoffenheim's attacking flair was dominating Darmstadt, although they were proving tough to crack. The frustration was beginning to take hold and a scuffle broke out on the sidelines which seen both Uth and Peter Niemeyer booked for a spat on the sidelines.
Darmstadt rode the storm and eventually had a chance to come forward themselves. Rausch's free-kick smashed into the wall and a few long-balls required the attention of Oliver Baumann, though the Hoffenheim stopper was truly troubled and the sides went in level at the break.
Second-half much more of a spectacle
Steven Zuber had the first opportunity of the second half from a free-kick, though the Swiss midfielder couldn't get the accuracy to match the power and it flew wildly over the bar. Such was the nature of the game, the opening hour had produced more bookings than clear cut chances.
Hoffenheim were now truly dominant and began to create the chance that their play deserved. Kevin Kuranyi was the man at the heart of the action, but he passed up several great opportunities to grab the winning goal. He even shot wide from just two yards out, after good play from the lively Jonathan Schmid.
The Frenchman had efforts of his own blocked and saved, with Mathenia the busiest player on the pitch alongside his defenders. In the final minute of normal time, Luca Caldirola went from loanee to saviour with an incredible goal-line clearance. He somehow managed to twist his body to around flick Kuranyi's effort off the line, while Sandro Wagner's late effort was magnificently stopped by Baumann.