Comfortable win over 1. FC Heidenheim

Whereas numerous TSG players had been missing from the first pre-season friendly against FC-Astoria Walldorf (4-0 victory) due to their international involvement in June, coach André Breitenreiter had the internationals back at his disposal against Heidenheim. The friendly was held in Brackenheim to mark the 100th birthday of VfL Brackenheim's football department, with TSG managing director Frank Briel and director of football Alexander Rosen on hand to present the host club with a present.

1. FC Heidenheim, whose 2. Bundesliga campaign gets under way against Hansa Rostock only next week, registered the first opportunity of the match following a third-minute counter-attack. But TSG shot-stopper Oliver Baumann showed outstanding reactions and saved the shot from 16 metres. Hoffenheim's first moment of danger in front of the opposition goal came in the 13th minute, with Andrej Kramarić denied by FCH goalkeeper Müller. Only a minute later, the Croat intercepted a back pass and skillfully beat the goalie with a lobbed effort that nestled in the far corner for 1-0. Pavel Kadeřábek then doubled the lead in the 35th minute after Jacob Bruun Larsen had rounded the goalkeeper and cut the ball back to the Czech international from the byline.

André Breitenreiter rang the changes ahead of the second period. But the new-look team did not need much time to settle in and created their first chance through Munas Dabbur within a minute of the restart (46). But Heidenheim made a bright start themselves: Tim Kleindienst had a header kept out by Luca Philipp in the Hoffenheim goal, who then came out on top in a one-on-one with Jan-Niklas Beste in the 51st minute. Robert Skov had the opportunity to add to the lead in the 77th minute but his deflected shot sailed narrowly wide of the left post.

Georginio in particular had opportunities to add a third goal in the closing stages, but a Heidenheim player stood in his way each time and the scoreline remained 2-0 until the final whistle.

"We've trained very intensively and extensively. The guys gave it everything they had in the tank. We produced a good performance in the circumstances, especially in the first half. The guys were very determined and committed," said TSG coach André Breitenreiter.

From Monday (11 July), TSG Hoffenheim will continue their preparations for the coming season at their training camp in Kitzbühel, where André Breitenreiter's team will face Hungarian top-flight club Puskás Akadémia on Wednesday (13 July at 18:00 CET) and Serie A side Salernitana, whose ranks include former Bundesliga star Franck Ribéry, on Saturday 16 July (15:00 CET).

TSG Hoffenheim first-half line-up: Baumann – Posch, Vogt, Hübner – Kadeřábek, Prömel, Samassékou, Bischof, Raum – Kramarić, Bruun Larsen

TSG Hoffenheim second-half line-up: Philipp – Adams, Rudy, Bogarde – Akpoguma, Baumgartner, Geiger, Becker (Stiller, 75), Skov – Dabbur, Georginio

Goals: 1-0 Kramarić (14), 2-0 Kadeřábek (35)

Match facts and statistics »