Two new signings started the first competitive match of the season, with both David Raum and Angelo Stiller in the starting XI away to Viktoria Cologne in the DFB-Pokal first round. Philipp Pentke replaced the injured Oliver Baumann in goal, while the back four consisted of Melayro Bogarde, Kevin Akpoguma, Kevin Vogt and Raum. Stiller started in defensive midfield alongside Dennis Geiger. Georginio Rutter, Christoph Baumgartner and Jacob Bruun Larsen formed the attacking midfield trio, with Andrej Kramarić, who was wearing the captain's armband, up front.
TSG made a double substitution just after the hour mark, with Stefan Posch and Sebastian Rudy replacing Bogarde and Rutter. Baumgartner moved across to the right wing (64). Sebastian Hoeness made an offensive substitution on 76 minutes, with Munas Dabbur coming on for Geiger to support Kramarić up top. In extra-time, Mijat Gaćinović came on for Bruun Larsen (105) before Marco John took the place of the injured Raum (115).
The winner: TSG had gone ahead twice, only for Viktoria Cologne to hit back on the counter-attack shortly afterwards each time and level the scores. But after Andrej Kramarić made it 3-2, there was no way back for the men from Cologne. The Croat decided the tie with a lovely dribbling run followed by a well-placed shot.
Third time's the charm: TSG needed to go ahead for a third time before the victory was sealed in extra-time. Viktoria Cologne had earlier cancelled out their lead on two occasions.
Line-ups:
Viktoria Köln: Nicolas – Heister, Rossmann, Greger, Buballa – Klefisch, Lorsch (Hemcke, 89), Sontheimer (Bunjaku, 110) – Handle, Amyn (Philipp, 59) – Möller (Thiele, 59)
TSG Hoffenheim: Pentke – Bogarde (Posch, 64), Akpoguma, Vogt, Raum (John, 115) – Geiger (Dabbur, 76), Stiller – Rutter (Rudy, 64), Baumgartner, Bruun Larsen (Gaćinović, 105) – Kramarić
Goals: 0-1 Kramarić (pen., 27), 1-1 Handle (33), 1-2 Dabbur (94), 2-2 Greger (102), 2-3 Kramarić (107)
