11,500 spectators came to TSG Hoffenheim’s grand season opening event at the PreZero Arena. Coach Pellegrino Matarazzo’s team played out a 2-2 (2-0) drew with Scottish record champions Rangers. Pavel Kadeřábek and Ihlas Bebou fired TSG into a 2-0 lead following a good first-half performance, only for the Scots to equalise in the second period once Matarazzo had made a number of substitutions. A big entertainment programme was put on for the fans to accompany the match.
TSG started courageously like they did in the recent friendly against Feyenoord (4-2) and created the first good opportunity early on, but Marius Bülter was denied from close range by former England national team goalkeeper Jack Butland on his home debut for TSG (2).
The Glasgow outfit got their first glimpse of the TSG goal around the quarter-hour mark, but Cyriel Dessers was thwarted by Oliver Baumann (16). Butland made another stunning stop at the other end to keep out Angelo Stiller’s effort from Bülter’s cross (17).
TSG then took the lead in the 23rd minute: Pavel Kadeřábek won the ball back courtesy of a sliding tackle in the opposition penalty area and slotted home unmarked – it was the Czech’s third goal in five pre-season friendlies.
TSG remained the better team even once they had taken the lead and increased their advantage shortly before the break: Andrej Kramarić fed Ihlas Bebou, who slotted home from close range (42). The half-time whistle sounded shortly afterwards with the score at 2-0.
The Scots upped the pressure in the second period and pulled a goal back early on: Ozan Kabak fouled Dessers in the penalty area, with captain James Tavernier slotting home the resultant penalty (56). Head coach Pellegrino Matarazzo made eight changes around the hour mark, with Attila Szalai making his debut for TSG. The visitors capitalised on the brief disorder and equalised through a Sam Lammers header (63).
TSG took back control again once the score went to 2-2 but were lacking precision with their finishing. Finn Ole Becker fired over the crossbar from 16 metres out (72), then Maxi Beier shot narrowly wide from a similar position (78).
Overall, Pellegrino Matarazzo was satisfied with the performance from his team but not with the result: “We had a lot of good spells in the match and lots of chances. There was room for improvement in both halves. But the train is in motion, it’s now about the finer details. I’m frustrated we didn’t win the match. If we had made it 3-0 directly after the restart, the match would have definitely ended differently.”
“There was clearly more in it today. But we’re seeing the team find their feet more and more. There were lots of good passages of play. We can draw many lessons from the game,” Grischa Prömel said.
“We played very well in the first half, we were satisfied with the performance and the 2-0 lead. Even though it was a friendly match, we wanted to win. That’s why we’re not satisfied with the 2-2 draw, but we are with the whole performance,” Pavel Kadeřábek said, before adding: “Things have been going well for me in pre-season so far, I’ve scored my third goal, left-footed like against Feyenoord.”
The final friendly before the competitive restart away to VfB Lübeck in the DFB-Pokal (14 August at 18:00 CET) is coming up next week: TSG will be away to English top-flight outfit Fulham on Saturday (5 August). Kick-off at Craven Cottage in London will be at 13:00 local time (14:00 CET).
TSG line-up: Baumann – Ozan Kabak (Akpoguma, 61), Brooks (Szalai, 61), Vogt (Nsoki, 74) – Kadeřábek (Justvan, 61), Grillitsch (Becker, 46), Bülter (Skov, 61) – Prömel (Samassékou, 61), Stiller (Bischof, 61) – Kramarić (Damar, 61), Bebou (Beier, 61)
Goals: 1-0 Kadeřábek (23), 2-0 Bebou (42), 2-1 Tavernier (57), 2-2 Lammers (63)