Hoffenheim beat Aalen in six-goal thriller

On a cold and cloudy morning in Aalen yesterday morning, TSG kicked off against part-timers Aalen. Manager Holger Stanislawski was about to choose a team from 13 fist team players not involved in international duty this week, as well as some fledglings from the under-19 side. Germany youth player Niklas Süle started in defence with Marvin Commper, while Ömer Yildirim, Julius Davies, Charles Renken, Dobrosav Kostic and Felix Müller also got some playing time.

Hoffe start off well

Stani set his team up with a 4-3-3 formation, with Sven Schipplock leading the attack, flanked by Ryan Babel and Boris Vukcevic, recently returned from injury. It was the Bundesliga side which first drew some excitement from the crowd, when, after six minutes, Schipplock rode his way through two challenges but shot straight at ex-TSG under 23s keeper Daniel Bernhardt. The pressure was telling and soon 1899 took a quickfire 2-0 lead. Ryan Babel squeezed in a shot from just inside the area (7), before the lively Schipplock headed in a pinpoint cross from defender Andreas Ibertsberger (8). Soon it was 3-0 as Aalen-born captain Andreas Beck fed Schipplock for his second of the game midway through the first half. The home side were shell-shocked, but rallied well to test the opponents' goal. First Marco Calamanti shot just wide of Hoffenheim keeper Daniel Haas' goal, before the same player missed a one-on-one with Haas just before the break (40).

More changes, more goals

At the half-time interval, Stani replaced Commper and Beck with Yildirim and Kostic. VfR Aalen emerged from the dressing room rejuvenated, and pulled a goal back almost immediately, when Andreas Hoffmann's deflected effort flew inside Haas' post (49). Hoffenheim came back and soon restored their three-goal advantage when Jonson converted from Babel's pass (55). But the third division side continued to fight for every ball. They were not to be denied another goal, when the impressive Hoffmann again beat Haas. This time there was no deflection needed – Haas had no chance (61). There were plenty more chances in the final half hour of the game, but the scoreline remained the same. It finished VfR Aalen 2-4 TSG 1899 Hoffenheim (0-3).

Holger Stanislawski will be pleased to have been able to see what his youngsters can do, and that his first team players have maintained their match rhythm during the international break.

Aalen: Bernhardt (Wehr, 46) – Marz, Mössmer (Christlieb, 77), Herröder (Mader, 61), Schulz (Haller, 46) – Grech (Neziri, 46), Hofmann (Schmidt, 61), Ruiz, Bergheim (Valentini, 46) – Weiß (Odabas, 77), Calamati (Schiele, 61).

Hoffenheim: Haas – Beck (Kostic, 46), Süle, Compper (Yildirim, 46), Ibertsberger – Weis (Renken, 70), Johnson (Davies, 70), Kaiser – Vukcevic (Müller, 70), Schipplock, Babel.

Tore: 0-1 Babel (6), 0-2 Schipplock (8), 0-3 Schipplock (23), 1-3 Hofmann (49), 1-4 Johnson, (55), 2-4 Hofmann (61)

Referee: Markus Schmidt (Stuttgart)

Attendance: 6,500