Andrej Kramaric hits hat-trick of assists in Augsburg

Augsburg 0-4 Hoffenheim
Goals: 0-1 Bruun Larsen (37'), 0-2 Adamyan (79'), 0-3 Rutter (87'), 0-4 Rudy (90'+5)

Former Bayern Munich youngsters Niklas Dorsch and Angelo Stiller went up against each other at the WWK Arena on Matchday 1, as Dorsch's new side Augsburg played host to Stiller's Hoffenheim. Both teams took a while to get going in a fairly uneventful start to proceedings, with Andre Hahn clattering into the Augsburg dugout the most notable moment by the mid-point of the first half. Thankfully, Hahn dusted himself down to continue and his team burst into life moments later. Ruben Vargas raced through on goal from the left and should have opened his and Augsburg's account for the season, but his effort flashed wide of the far post. It proved a costly miss as Bruun Larsen was superbly picked out at the far post by Kramaric to give Sebastian Hoeneß's men a half-time advantage.

Both teams raced out the traps at the start of the second half, with the home side feeding off the return of fans to the stadium and crafting early chances that brought about the first test of Oliver Baumann in the Hoffenheim goal. Hahn and Vargas were particularly menacing as Markus Weinzierl's team threw caution to the wind and committed men forward in large numbers. The game opened up as a result, setting a relentless pace that was absent for much of the first period. The away team were happy looking to pounce on the counter as a result, with the onus firmly placed on Augsburg to make the majority of the running. And, shortly after Kramaric was superbly denied by Rafal Gikiewicz, it was Hoffenheim that added a second, as Kramaric again played the role of provider by teeing up substitutes Adamyan and Rutter. Sebastian Rudy's injury-time effort ensured Hoffenheim wrapped up all three points in style.

• Augsburg and Hoffenheim are two of only seven clubs to have never suffered Bundesliga relegation.
• Hoffenheim pair Stiller and David Raum made their Bundesliga debuts.
• Bruun Larsen's goal was his first for Hoffenheim, third in total in the Bundesliga and first with his head.
• Adamyan's goal was his eighth in the German top-flight and means he has scored in each of his last two Bundesliga matches having gotten on the scoresheet in the 2-1 win over Hertha Berlin on the final weekend of the 2020/21 campaign.
• TSG have now won both of their previous two opening matchdays of the season.
• Hoffenheim have recorded more wins in Augsburg than against any club they’ve faced on the road (seven).

Watch: Hoeneß on Kramaric: "He plays courageously"

Augsburg: Gikiewicz - Gummy, Gouweleeuw (c), Uduokhai, Iago (Pedersen 81') - Moravek (Maier 59'), Dorsch - Hahn (Caligiuri 64'), Jensen (Gregoritsch 64'), Vargas (Sarenren Bazee 81') - Niederlechner
Unused subs: Koubek, Winther, Framberger, Gruezo
Out: Cordova (muscular), Finnbogason (ankle), Oxford (knee), Strobl (ankle), Civeja (pelvis)
Coach: Markus Weinzierl

Hoffenheim: Baumann - Posch, Akpoguma (Samassekou 73'), Vogt (c), Raum (John 52') - Rudy, Stiller - Bruun Larsen (Adamyan 59'), Baumgartner (Rutter 73'), Kramaric - Dabbur (Gacinovic 59')
Unused subs: Pentke, Bogarde, Rüth
Out: Bebou (match fitness), Belfodil (thigh), Bicakcic (knee), Grillitsch (muscular), Hübner (ankle), Kaderabek (calf), Nordtveit (thigh), Baumann (pelvis), Skov (foot)
Coach: Sebastian Hoeneß