TSG comfortably win first friendly

TSG have won their first friendly of the 2018/19 season, with Julian Nagelsmann's charges claiming a 3-0 victory over third-division side SpVgg Unterhaching in Pöcking. Despite their exertions during their training camp in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Hoffenheim delivered a strong display against their Bavarian opposition − whose domestic campaign starts in two weeks − and demonstrated a strong physical presence. Nagelsmann deployed 21 players and made 10 changes at the interval, with only shot-stopper Alexander Stolz keeping his place.

With the sun shining, the almost 1,000-strong crowd saw Nadiem Amiri (two) and Leonardo Bittencourt grab the goals at the SC Pöcking sports complex, which is located in the vicinity of Lake Starnberg. Amiri was assisted by David Otto for his goals in the 19th and 23rd minutes, before Bittencourt converted a perfect pass from Pavel Kaderabek on the 26-minute mark. TSG, who were playing in their new white shirts, could have added a fourth goal in the opening 45 minutes but squandered several good opportunities. Leo Bittencourt, who was making his debut for Hoffenheim, was satisfied: "Obviously not everything is going to go smoothly in the first friendly, but I think we can be satisfied. I was very happy with my goal." That positivity was echoed by head coach Julian Nagelsmann, who said: "We were very dominant and really posed a goal threat from midfield, especially in the first half. I'm satisfied."

Training in Zuzenhausen on Monday

The TSG team will now return to Kraichgau, where they will have two days off before resuming their pre-season with an open training session in Zuzenhausen on Monday (10:30 CET).

TSG first-half line-up: Stolz, Kaderabek, Nordtveit, Bittencourt, Amiri, Hübner, Vogt, Pires, Akpoguma, Otto, Szalai

TSG second-half line-up: Stolz, Brenet, Bicakcic, Demirbay, Grillitsch, Schulz, Zulj, Hoogma, Ochs, Grifo, Posch

Match facts and statistics »