TSG lose friendly to Elversberg
The two new signings Marius Bülter and Julian Justvan made the starting XI once again and made an impact on the flanks in the first half. Coach Pellegrino Matarazzo's team were the better side in the opening minutes against the second-division promoted team, who were significantly further along in their pre-season preparations.
Some TSG fans were calling for a penalty in the eighth minute after Maximilian Beier had been felled in the penalty area but the referee did not blow his whistle. Even without the penalty, TSG took the lead three minutes later. Bülter played the ball down the left flank to Jacob Bruun Larsen, who cut it back for Grischa Prömel to fire it into the bottom right corner from 14 metres out (11).
Only a few moments later, however, SV Elversberg levelled the scores with their first opportunity: Semih Sahin latched onto a lovely through-ball and kept ice-cool in front of goalkeeper Oliver Baumann (15). TSG slightly lost their way thereafter, although Beier had a major opportunity to re-establish the lead in the 32nd minute. But the forward was thwarted from close range by Nicolas Kristof in the Elversberg goal and so the score stayed 1-1 after 45 minutes.
TSG almost completely changed their team for the second half and brought on several youth players. Fisnik Asllani had a big chance to make it 2-1 in the 51st minute but fired his shot from Marco John's cross over the goal. But it was Elversberg rather than TSG who took the lead shortly afterwards: Manuel Feil only had to head home from close range following a counter (55). John went close to equalising from a Bambasé Conté cross immediately afterwards (56).
Matarazzo's charges subsequently had a go but could not manage to create clear goalscoring chances. The best opportunity was Conté's shot from the edge of the penalty area which missed, meaning the game ended in a 2-1 defeat. "The performance was actually decent in both halves, but the result wasn't. However, it's only a friendly and we're still at the beginning of pre-season. We had our chances; Elversberg were very clinical in front of goal and we weren't. We need to keep working hard in the training camp. We're delighted that we can bring joy to the local fans and we're happy to take the time to do so," said Oliver Baumann after the match.
Coach Pellegrino Matarazzo also saw some good things, despite the defeat. "We of course should have scored more goals today; we had the chances to do so. Overall, however, I'm satisfied because we showed good ideas. My boys were active in both halves. Elversberg are a good team, it's no coincidence that they have been promoted two years in a row. The goals we conceded were of course avoidable, but we'll work on that in the next few weeks."
On Saturday, TSG Hoffenheim will travel to Kitzbühel for a week-long training camp. The plan is then for all the internationals to return to training.
First-half line-up: Baumann – Vogt, Brooks, Quarshie – Justvan, Geiger, Bülter – Prömel, Damar – Beier, Bruun Larsen
Second-half line-up: Noll – Kadeřábek, Vogt (Drexler, 58), Nsoki – Skov, Lässig, John – Prömel (Butler, 58), Damar (Kelati, 58) – Asllani, Conté
Goals: 0-1 Prömel (11th minute), 1-1 Sahin (15), 2-1 Feil (55)