It was potentially a championship deciding decision with five rounds remaining - leaving Leipzig four points adrift of leaders and defending champions Bayern Munich, who face third-place Wolfsburg on Saturday.

Leipzig coach Julian Nagelsmann acknowledged his team's title bid was becoming increasingly difficult.

"We have to win the games to manage it, but we didn't manage it, and that's why we don't have to talk about it so much," Nagelsmann said.

Substitute Yussuf Poulsen thought he had scored six minutes into time added on, heading in Marcel Halstenberg's corner, but referee Manuel Grafe reviewed video replays and determined that the ball struck Poulsen's hand.

Nagelsmann, who is still just 33, was up against his former side in Hoffenheim, who he led to third place and Champions League qualification in 2018.

It was Hoffenheim's second consecutive scoreless draw after another uninspiring game against Bayer Leverkusen on Monday, but it was enough to lift the visitors to 11th on goal difference.

"Not conceding is considered a success. We have to be happy with the point," Hoffenheim midfielder Christoph Baumgartner said, although he admitted he could not understand why Leipzig's goal didn't count.

Real scoring chances were rare in the match as Leipzig had only two shots on target and Hoffenheim none.

Christopher Nkunku had the game's first real opening before the hour mark when he forced a save from Hoffenheim goalkeeper Oliver Baumann, a minute before Tyler Adams missed another good chance for Leipzig.

Alexander Sorloth, another substitute, should have done better for Leipzig when he fired over from a promising position, while Hoffenheim substitute Ihlas Bebou missed the visitors' best chance in the 75th.

Australian Associated Press