Benjamin Hübner to remain TSG's captain

On and off the pitch, there's always something happening at TSG. In our "Box-to-box" series, we bring you exciting and interesting stories from the first team, the U23s, the academy and the women's team.

Sunday

Benjamin Hübner to remain TSG's captain

Our new captain is our old one: Benjamin Hübner will wear the captain's armband for TSG Hoffenheim throughout the 2021/22 season. The announcement was made by head coach Sebastian Hoeness at Sunday's press conference prior to the match at Viktoria Cologne. The 32-year-old had taken on the captaincy in winter 2019. Oliver Baumann will remain his deputy. In addition to Hübner und Baumann, Ermin Bičakčić, Sebastian Rudy, Christoph Baumgartner and Andrej Kramarić have all been voted on to the Team Council.

Saturday

Hoffenheim reserves beaten by Cologne counterparts

The U23s suffered a defeat to Regionalliga West outfit 1. FC Cologne II in Nörtershausen in their final pre-season friendly fixture. Despite producing a good performance and having way more of the chances, "Hoffe zwo" ended up losing 1-0 (1-0). TSG midfielder Robin Szarka hit both the crossbar and the post in the match.

The result means that TSG end their pre-season preparations with a balanced record of two victories (5-0 against TuS Mechtersheim and 8-1 against Rot-Weiß Walldorf) and two defeats (3-2 to Wormatia Worms and the loss against the 1. FC Cologne U21s). They also drew 2-2 with French club FCSR Haguenau.

Friday

U23s to face 1. FC Cologne II in final friendly

With a week to go before their Regionalliga campaign gets under way at the Dietmar-Hopp-Stadion against SG Sonnenhof Großaspach, the U23s are preparing for a final friendly tomorrow (14:00 CET) in Nörtershausen. They will face the 1. FC Cologne U21s, who play in the Regionalliga West and for whom it will also be the final fixture before the league starts.

"Hoffe zwo" coach Kai Herdling's team have a positive record from their friendlies to date. There were clear victories against Oberliga sides TuS Mechtersheim (5-0) and Rot-Weiß Walldorf (8-1), while they were held to a 2-2 draw by French fourth-tier club FCSR Haguenau. The TSG U23s have only suffered one defeat – a 3-2 loss at the hand of Oberliga side Wormatia Worms.

Wednesday

TSG win friendly against Karlsruher SC

TSG Hoffenheim beat second-tier club Karlsruher FC 5-0 (2-0) on Wednesday in a friendly match which was organised at short notice. The match, which was held behind closed doors at the ground of FC Zuzenhausen, saw TSG head coach Sebastian Hoeness change his entire side at half-time. TSG's goals were scored by Maximilian Beier (24th minute), Christoph Baumgartner (27), Marco John (60), Kasim Adams (83, penalty) and the 19-year-old Frenchman Gautier Ott (90).

''I'm very happy with the result and the attitude that our team showed today. It was extremely important to get another friendly match organised given that many player weren't able to join up with the team until later on in our preseason preparations,'' said director of football Alexander Rosen after the friendly win, going on to add: ''Without reading too much into the result, it was a highly successful way to close out our preparations for the upcoming season. From now on, there is one thing we're focusing on and that's Viktoria Cologne.''

The first-half line-up: Pentke, Stiller, Baumgartner, Raum, Gaćinović, Vogt, Kramarić, Bogarde, Rutter, Beier, Posch

The second-half line-up: Philipp, Dabbur, Adams, Akpoguma, Skov (79, Ott), John, Zaiser, König, Asllani, Rüth, Butler