TSG beat Astra in final friendly

Tactics and line-up:

For their last friendly of the winter break, TSG lined up with Baumann in goal behind a back four of Beck, Abraham, Bicakcic and Strobl. The usual 4-2-3-1 formation was deployed, with Schwegler and Polanski in holding roles and Elyounoussi, Firmino and Salihovic behind the lone striker Szalai. The system was quite flexible though, with Polanski often getting involved further forward.

Kevin Volland was missing for Markus Gisdol against the Romanian outfit. He overstretched his knee joint in the meeting with Brondby and so was left out as a precaution. As things stand, it looks likely that he will be available for the Augsburg match, with Volland himself saying “it's nothing serious”.

Gisdol made three changes at the break, bringing on Anthony Modeste, Sebastian Rudy and Jeremy Toljan for Adam Szalai, Andreas Beck and David Abraham. Those substitutes saw Tobias Strobl move into central defence, allowing Toljan to play at left back. Three further changes in personnel followed on the hour mark: Firmino, Elyounoussi and Salihovic made way for Amiri, Schipplock and Zuber, but they weren't the last substitutions. Hamad and Herdling replaced Schwegler and Polanski in the 74th minute, before a new centre-back pairing of Nicolai Rapp and Jannik Vestergaard was introduced for Bicakcic and Strobl nine minutes later.

Match highlights:

7th minute:The first chance of the game falls to Denis Alibec for the away side. He meets a cross at the near post and it takes some brilliant reactions from Oliver Baumann to keep it out.

9th minute:A first opportunity for Hoffenheim. Adam Szalai has a go from the edge of the box, but he doesn't meet it sweetly enough and the chance is gone.

12th minute:The ball drops at Tarik Elyounoussi's feet in the penalty area and his snapshot is parried away by Lung in the Astra goal.

14th minute:What a ball! Firmino threads a pass through the eye of a needle and puts Szalai in one-on-one. The Hungarian is denied by goalkeeper Lung though. Best chance so far.

17th minute:A miscommunication in the TSG defence leads to a huge opportunity for Astra. Andreas Beck deals with the danger at the last second though.

47th minute:That probably should have been the opener from Budescu. He gets a shot off about eight yards out, but once again Baumann shows his quality.

54th minute:Hoffenheim take the lead and just like against Brondby, TSG don't have to score the opener themselves. Elyounoussi is in down the right flank and squares the ball. It hits Oros on the chest and creeps across the line.

55th minute: Now that's what you call a quick double. Modeste gets himself between the ball and the defender, holds him off and keeps his cool against the keeper too. Fine goal from our number 27.

57th minute:Modeste is in again, but this time he is kept out by the Astra goalkeeper, who saves well with his feet.

67th minute:The visitors are back in it. A handball inside the area leads to a penalty for Giurgiu. Budescu holds his nerve and doesn't give Oliver Baumann a chance. TSG's lead is reduced to 2-1.

82nd minute:Jiloan Hamad dances past his man on the right-hand side of the box, cuts back inside and shoots with his left, but Lung is down quickly and saves well.

87th minute:Nicolai Rapp only came on four minutes ago, but he's wrapped up the win for Hoffenheim. He's on the end of Kai Herdling's free kick into the centre and fires home from six yards. 3-1, game over!