Friendlies Clubs· Season 2026
Hoffenheim beat SGV Heilbronn-Freiberg 3-0 in pre-season friendly. Lemperle, Rots and Zeitler scored but the scoreline flattered the Bundesliga side against a competitive SGV.
Match Videos
Match Analysis
AI SummaryHow It Unfolded
The opening half-hour was a tightly contested affair, with SGV matching Hoffenheim's intensity in the duels and limiting the Bundesliga side to few clear sights of goal. Hoffenheim goalkeeper Luca Philipp was called into action in the 18th minute, producing a sharp save to deny Marius Köhl's curling effort from distance. Michael Martin then scuffed a shot narrowly wide for the hosts a minute later.
Hoffenheim's breakthrough arrived in the 32nd minute. New signing Tim Lemperle — who joined from Köln in the summer — controlled a delivery inside the box and lashed a first-time finish past Benedikt Grawe from 15 yards. The goal did not deflate SGV, however. Köhl responded immediately with a dipping effort that whistled just over, and Meghon Valpoort drew another save from Philipp in the 33rd minute as the half ended with the Regionalliga side arguably having created the better chances.
Hoffenheim emerged sharper after the break. Full-back Mats Rots doubled the lead in the 48th minute, converting from close range after a well-worked move. The Bundesliga side began to assert control, though Rots was denied a second by Grawe in the 65th minute.
Deniz Zeitler made certain of the result in the 76th minute, finishing a rapid Hoffenheim counter-attack to make it 3-0. SGV pushed for a consolation in the closing stages, but Hoffenheim substitute goalkeeper Lukas Petersson produced a fine double save in the 85th minute and tipped over another Valpoort effort in the 89th.
The Turning Point
Lemperle's 32nd-minute opener arrived against the run of play. SGV had been the more threatening side in the preceding 10 minutes, with Köhl and Valpoort testing Philipp. The goal shifted the psychological momentum just before half-time, and Hoffenheim's early second-half strike from Rots killed any realistic prospect of an SGV comeback.
Key Performers
Tim Lemperle — The summer signing from Köln scored Hoffenheim's crucial first goal with a clinical first-time finish. He led the line well in the first half before being substituted at the break, a common pattern in pre-season hit-outs.
Marius Köhl (SGV) — The SGV midfielder was the hosts' most dangerous outlet, forcing two saves from Philipp and hitting the frame of the goal. His energy in transition troubled Hoffenheim's defence throughout the first half.
Luca Philipp — The Hoffenheim goalkeeper made three first-half saves to keep the score at 0-0 before Lemperle's opener, and his distribution helped Hoffenheim build from the back.
Lukas Petersson — The second-half goalkeeper preserved the clean sheet with two excellent saves in the closing minutes, maintaining Hoffenheim's shutout.
By the Numbers — Interpreted
The 3-0 scoreline suggests a comfortable Hoffenheim victory, but the match was far more competitive than the final margin indicates. SGV created the clearer chances in the first half and matched Hoffenheim's physical intensity. The decisive factor was finishing: Hoffenheim took three of their clearer opportunities, while SGV's final ball or composure in front of goal repeatedly let them down. Hoffenheim's greater depth — they fielded a completely changed XI in the second half — also told as the game wore on, with the Bundesliga side's fitness and quality off the bench proving decisive in the final 30 minutes.
What It Means
Hoffenheim begin their pre-season with a clean sheet and a win as they build towards the 2026/27 Bundesliga campaign, in which they will also feature in European competition. Christian Ilzer's side face SV Elversberg in their next friendly on 25 July before heading to a training camp in Seefeld, Austria from 2-9 August.
For SGV Heilbronn-Freiberg — newly relocated to Heilbronn and rebranded — the performance offered encouragement ahead of their Regionalliga Südwest campaign, which kicks off in early August. Coach Kushtrim Lushtaku will be concerned by his side's wastefulness in front of goal but can take heart from how competitively they matched a Bundesliga opponent for long stretches.
Verdict
A pre-season friendly that told both sides what they needed to hear. Hoffenheim's quality in key moments and superior depth made the difference, but SGV proved they can live with higher-level opposition for significant periods. The scoreline does not fully capture the contest.
Match Events
Key match events between SGV Freiberg and 1899 Hoffenheim — 3 goals and 0 cards recorded during the match.
Statistics are for informational purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
API data: 19 Jul 2026