TSG 1899 Hoffenheim (Germany) (Home) 15.08.2026

With the choice of players relatively limited, Roberto De Zerbi went with a strong line-up with only the inclusion of Mikey Moore being a surprise, although with the injuries to our wingers, perhaps it wasn’t too much of a shock.  And there was instant involvement by the youngster, as he looked willing to take player on and won an early corner, going past Bernardo tight to the side-line like the defender wasn’t there.  In the fifth minute, Mikey cut inside from the right past two Hoffenheim players, but his finish was lacking power and straight at the keeper, who got down behind it.

Even in the opening few minutes, it became clear that De Zerbi’s intention was for anyone who was wide and in space to play early crosses into the danger area. But there was danger from Hoffenheim’s striker Adam Hlozek that Spurs were made aware of with firstly a shot with little back-lift from just inside the right corner of the Tottenham box and secondly when he advanced from the centre circle with a run that took him into the Spurs box from a similar position to his earlier effort and he shaped a shot aiming for the far top corner, but just lifted it too high and it bounced off the crossbar.  Lucas Bergvall made a similar run at the other end, producing a low shot that Baumann had to scramble down to his left to push out for a corner.

From that corner, the ball was cleared, but recycled with Robertson playing the ball to the back of the penalty area from the left wing and as Marcos Senesi was waiting to head it back across goal Coufal looked to have thrown an arm up into his face.  The old Iron wasn’t looking at the ball and probably didn’t know that the Spurs defender was there, but Attwell poured cold water on appeals for a penalty by directing the teams off for a hydration break.  Cue boos from the crowd as the World Cup had taught fans to do.

Play restarted an on the half hour Mikey made another good move on the right and put an enticing ball across the six yard box that was a little too far ahead of Richi and Mathys who went sliding in trying to make contact.  The five minutes later Tottenham went ahead.  Richarlison got clattered in mid-pitch (not for the first or the last time) and Spurs got possession moving the ball left to Sandro Tonali.  With one touch moving the ball out of his feet, he took it away from a blue shirt, leaving a clear run forward.  He passed the ball left to Robertson allowing his to play the ball across in his run and Richi had got up to find space around the penalty spot to turn the ball into the roof of the net to make it 1-0.  It was a flowing move that presented the Brazilian with the opportunity and it was the sort that Richarlison takes best … the ones he doesn’t have to think too much about.

Hoffenheim took their time in responding, but just before the 45 minute mark, Daghim struck a drive from the edge of the box and Toni Kinsky had to dive right to push the shot away and in the second phase, the ball came into the box and Burger got his head to it, but put it a foot wide to Kinsky’s right.  In added time, Bergvall made another forward run and hit a shot that was blocked by a defender.

At half-time, Hoffenheim replaced all ten outfield players and there was a marked change in approach.  While the first half XI were physical and aggressive, the substitute team was more technical and played a bit more football to get forward.  Wimmer struck an effort on target from the left hand corner of the box that took a flick off Bergvall bringing Kinsky into action with a low save down at his right-hand post.  Then Rots got the ball as it was retrieved by the German side and he took a shot early with the outside of his boot with the ball going a couple of feet wide of the keeper’s left hand post from just inside the area.  Meanwhile Spurs kept moving towards the Hoffenheim goal, with Mathys Tel taking a line-breaking pass from Senesi to thrash his effort over the bar and then another ball into the box was touched by Richarlison, who quickly got his shot away and that went wide and high too.

Tel’s next involvement was more telling.  Beating one man just outside the box he took on another, got the run of the ball as they got a toe to it giving him some space as he ran towards the dead-ball line.  He put a ball into the heart of the six yard box where Mikey Moore had lost Spranger, getting across him to meet the cross and tuck the ball away on the volley from close range.  It was a good run by Mathys and good movement in the box by Mikey, something that was sadly lacking last season.

Sub Moerstedt tested Kinsky with a shot at his near post but the Spurs keeper spread himself to stop it with his legs with Tel making a lively run at the other end, coming inside to shoot low, but without a lot of power allowing Baumann to get behind it.  Mathys’ direct running had troubled the Hoffenheim defence and when he came in off the left along the 18 yard line, shifted the ball from his right to his left foot with a clever shuffle knocking the ball right into Moore’s path in the box giving him time to take a touch then stroke a low shot gently wide of the keeper’s right hand to find the bottom corner of the net.  His loan at Rangers seems to have added to his game and the finish brought to mind the way Jimmy Greaves used to pass the ball into the net.   

With more substitutions, the game settled into a pattern of moves breaking down until the very end of the match.  Hranac spun Tel around by his shirt because he couldn’t stop him legally and it would have been a yellow under other circumstances and when Hoffenheim got near goal, Mots let go a shot that was deflected for a corner, which Toni flapped at but got cleared with the game coming to an end shortly after.  The post-match entertainment was very poor.  Two kids who ran on (not realising they face a banning order) to try and get to Kinsky, with one of them getting his shirt and the security guards getting heartily booed for grabbing them.  Then a fully grown adult in matching luminous green shirt and shorts decided to have a go too, but didn’t get far before he was hauled back by the security staff with arms being thrown, but they marched him off on a walk of shame looking like a FKW as he made his way around the touchline track.  It could only have been better if Chirpy had been accompanying him.  

Several positives came out of the match with Tottenham finding movement off the ball and passes through the defence that the team failed to find last season.  This match was a chance for De Zerbi to weigh up his options seven days before we face Brentford and he will have been impressed by some of the performances notably the pairing of Senesi and van Hecke, Tonali, Gallagher and Bergvall in midfield with Tel and Moore sparkling up top.  I am sure he wished that he had some more of his World Cup and injured players available for selection but his first pick of the season will be one that can set the tone for the rest of the season (hopefully).