FIRST TEAM
08/02/2019

Season opening event: giants Sevilla in Sinsheim

The season opening event will take place in and around the PreZero Arena on Saturday, with the highlight coming when TSG Hoffenheim take on Sevilla in a friendly at 15:30 CET. The visitors, who are the Europa League record champions with five titles, will travel to the Kraichgau at the weekend with several famous faces in their ranks.

The best has been saved for last: as part of their season opening event, TSG Hoffenheim will face Spanish outfit Sevilla in their final summer friendly on Saturday (3 August, 15:30 CET). It will be the last pre-season run-out for coach Alfred Schreuder's charges, who will play their first competitive match of the season a week later when they travel to Würzburger Kickers in the DFB Cup First Round (Saturday 10 August at 18:30 CET).

Having finished in sixth place in La Liga last term, Spaniards Sevilla secured a spot in their favourite competition: the Europa League. Between 2014 and 2016, the Andalusians won Europe's secondary club competition in three successive seasons. In total, Los Blanquirrojos – the Red and Whites – have won the Europa League five times. That's more times than any other club.

The team is brimming with international stars such as the former Spain international Jesus Navás, the Argentinian midfielder Éver Banega and the France international Wissam Ben Yedder. And the new Sevilla coach is a big name in international football too: Julen Lopetegui, the former boss of the Spanish national team, took over the reins at the Andalusian club this summer.

Domestically, Sevilla rarely have much of a say in the title race due to the stranglehold the big three – Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid – have over the league. The club's only previous title came back in 1945/46.

Big events programme in front of the PreZero Arena

The visit of the UEFA Europa League record-holders will not be the only highlight in store on Saturday, however. Two hours before kick-off, at 13:30 CET, the event mile in front of the PreZero Arena will open. A number of food trucks and drinks stands will ensure visitors are fed and watered, while there will be various attractions too. There will also be further entertainment after the match, with the Sinsheim rock/pop cover band FATE scheduled to play a set. All further information on the programme at the season opening event can be found here.

Match facts and statistics »

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