10:0 friendly victory over Ober-Ramstadt

The second friendly game of the season's preparations required the Bundesliga club to make a visit to the Odenwald to face Ober-Ramstadt. In almost perfect conditions around 1000 spectators made the pilgrimage to the stadium where they would see a Ralf Rangnick-XI first hand. For Hoffenheim fan representative and announcer Mike Diehl, the visit back to his native Ober-Ramstadt was like a home game. He gladly accepted the invitation from Axel Rückert, club head of the Kreisliga outfit, and served in his familiar role as stadium announcer for the David vs. Goliath clash. The club's ground was perfectly prepared for the rush of spectators, while everybody had put in a great deal of hard work over the past couple of weeks to get the turf in perfect condition for the game. "The field has been watered around the clock during the last two weeks. We have done everything we can to create the best conditions," said Rückert.

Head coach Ralf Rangnick again had to do without a number of first team players. Chinedu Obasi, Matthias Jaissle and Carlos Eduardo all missed the game due to injuries, while Isaac Vorsah and Prince Tagoe are still enjoying an extended holiday after reaching the quarter finals of the World Cup. Franco Zuculini played a friendly against Panama at the weekend for the Argentine national team, while Tobias Weis and Demba Ba, although having previously returned from training, found that the game simply came too early for them. Not even the two goalkeepers, Daniel Haas and Ramazan Özcan, were used, but they made the journey regardless and took it upon themselves, along with Weis and Ba, to make themselves busy by signing autographs. The squad was strengthened with Christian Lensch from the U19s and Christoph Hemlein, Adam Jabiri, Dominik Kaiser, Claudio Bellanave and Jacob Ammann from the U23- all of whom are currently taking part in a training camp in Elfershausen on the Rhön.

Hoffenheim found it hard at the beginning against the crowded defence of their opponents, but managed to grab the opening goal through striker Vedad Ibisevic (9). The deadlock had been broken, and the floodgates were about to be smashed open. Sejad Salihovic, not usually known for his goal-scoring, was top scorer along with Adam Jabiri. The goal that made it 2-0, scored by the Bosnian international, was an absolute screamer. He rifled the ball in past the goalkeeper from fully 20 yards (21). After Christian Eichner netted with an effort from 25 yards (25), Salihovic himself scored another couple. Firstly, after a delightful pass from Ibisevic, he slotted home from the 6-yard line (27), and then converted a lovely Eichner cross from the left (32). Vedad Ibisevic grabbed the sixth before the half-time whistle went - converting a penalty in the 44th minute. Ibisevic's strike partner Peniel Mlapa also had a few decent chances, but twice his efforts rebounded off the woodwork.

After the break Ralf Rangnick sent out a completely new eleven onto the field, with changes in all positions. Josip Simunic and Andreas Ibertsberger were the only representatives from Rangnick's Bundesliga squad. After a quiet opening to the half 1899 began to up the tempo once more, and two Adam Jabiri goals in quick successful made it 8-0 (60/61). The tired legs of the U23 players - all of whom ailing after a gruelling training camp - were simply blown away, and Jabiri scored once again a seal his hat-trick (84). Josip Simunic finished the scoring in the 89th minute to make it 10-0. Head coach Ralf Rangnick was rather satisfied with the performance of his team. "Of course we might have been able to score another goal or two, but the work the players have put in in recent weeks has been immense. Therefore we are simply treating these games more like additional training sessions, and they are a good opportunity for the guys to get back into the swing of things."

1899 Hoffenheim - FC Ober-Ramstadt 10:0
1899 Hoffenheim 1. First half: Starke - Beck, Compper, Gulde, Eichner - Vukcevic, Luiz Gustavo, Hofmann, Salihovic - Ibisevic, Mlapa
1899 Hoffenheim 2. Second half: Grahl - Raitala, Simunic, Neupert, Ammann - Lensch, Ibertsberger, Kaiser - Hemlein, Jabiri, Bellanave
Goals: 1:0 Ibisevic (9.), 2:0 Salihovic (21.), 3:0 Eichner (25.), 4:0 Salihovic (27.), 5:0 Salihovic (32.), 6:0 Ibisevic (44.), 7:0 Jabiri (60.), 8:0 Jabiri (61.), 9:0 Jabiri (84.), 10:0 Simunic (89.). Referee: Sven Willmann (TSV Altheim). Attendance: 1000. Cards: -.