Hoffenheim's Nico Schulz caught up with Kingsley Coman at halftime

A hard tackle by Schulz had ended Coman’s Hinrunde before it really began. The Germany left-back spoke briefly with Coman at halftime.

The goal he scored against Bayern Munich was not the only highlight on the pitch for Hoffenheim’s Nico Schulz. Observers noted an arresting scene at halftime: Schulz approached Bayern’s Kingsley Coman near the sideline and spoke with him for a moment. Bild spoke with Schulz about the scene afterward.

Schulz had seriously injured Coman in the season opener against Hoffenheim in the Allianz Arena, as Coman suffered a torn syndesmosis in the same ankle that he had injured the season before, causing him to miss the crucial stage of Bayern’s season and France’s successful World Cup campaign.

Schulz had almost disappeared down the corridor to the locker room when he stopped, turned around, and walked back. He greeted Coman and put his arm around him and the two chatted for a brief moment. Schulz explained to Bild, “I wanted to know whether everything’s ok with him and how he’s feeling.”

Some observers, including Bild’s Malte Achilles (embedded above), wondered whether Schulz might have offered a late apology. But he explained he had long since done that: “I had already apologized, after all,” Schulz explained. “I don’t have to do that three times, after all. Just [wanted] to hear for a second how he’s doing.” Schulz said that Coman replied, “that everything’s fine. He’s doing well again. It’s forgotten.”