Bundesliga
Hoffenheim held by Rangers
Goals from Pavel Kaderabek and Ihlas Bebou had TSG leading against Rangers, until the visitors rallied for a draw.
Hoffenheim 2-2 Rangers
Goals 1-0 Kaderabek 23', 2-0 Bebou 42', 2-1 Tavernier (pen.) 57' 2-2 Lammers 63'
Hoffenheim had been gaining momentum as pre-season progressed, an impressive 4-2 win against Dutch champions Feyenoord preceding this meeting with Rangers. The hosts thus started in confident mood as the summer sun shone down on Sinsheim. Local fans were happy when Kaderabek gave TSG a deserved lead midway through the opening half, the Czech displaying great determination to get back to his feet inside the visiting box before drilling home for 1-0. Andrej Kramaric has been purring pre-season and the Croat looked sharp here in his side's latest warm-up. As half-time approached, the forward delightfully laid one on a plate for Bebou to tap in.
Although a plethora of changes are par for the course in these type of pre-season friendlies, Hoffenheim's momentum was nonetheless checked by their switches after the restart. Ozan Kabak's foul in the area saw Rangers win a penalty which James Tavernier convrted in style. The visiting captain then turned proivder for Dutch forward Sam Lammers, who headed in his side's leveller. With Hungary defender Attila Szalai making his Hoffenheim debut during the second half, home coach Pellegrino Matarazzo will have been happy with a solid day's work for his improving team.
Watch: Hoffenheim took a point off Bayern in April
Match stats
- Hoffenheim are preparing for a 16th successive season of Bundesliga football.
- Kramaric was Hoffenheim's 12-goal leading scorer in last season's Bundesliga.
- Goalkeeper Oliver Baumann has made a Hoffenheim record 330 appearances in all competitions.
- Matarazzo is facing Scottish opposition for the first time as a coach.
- Balogun, Lammers and Matondo have made a combined 120 Bundesliga appearances.
- None of the eight Scotsman who have played in the Bundesliga to date have a Rangers past.
Teams
Hoffenheim: Baumann (c) - Kabak, Brooks, Vogt - Kaderabek, Grillitsch, Prömel, Bülter - Kramaric, Stiller – Bebou
Subs: Philipp, Akpoguma, John, Nsoki, Quarshie, Szalai, Becker, Bischof, Conte, Damar, Justvan, Samassekou, Skov, Beier
Out: Asllani (ligament), Tohumcu (ankle)
Coach: Pellegrino Matarazzo
Rangers: Butland - Tavernier (c), Balogun, Yfeko, Yilmaz - Raskin, Lundstram, Cantwell, Sima - Lammers, Dessers
Subs: McLaughlin, Wright, Barisic, Sterling, Dowell, Hagi, Jack, Matondo, Danilo, Roofe
Out: Davis (knee), Goldson (knee), King (ankle), Ofoborh (heart condition)
Coach: Michael Beale
As it happened ...
2 - 2(2 - 0)
Hoffenheim
FINAL
Rangers
90' +2
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Full time
The referee brings an entertaining friendly to a close. Hoffenheim lead 2-0 at the break following first-half goals by Pavel Kaderabek and Ihlas Bebou. Rangers rallied after the restart, however, and when James Tavernier pulled one back from the penalty spot the way was open for Dutch forward Sam Lammers to head level. A good pre-season workout for both sides.
89'
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Rangers counter
A very dangerous break from Rangers ends with Matondo smacking a shot goalwards from the right. Baumann beats the ball away and Hoffenheim can breathe a sigh of relief.
82'
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Damar has a pop
It's from downtown and it's over the bar. Still, the home fans are happy to see their team continue to attack.
78'
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No go Beier
It's Maxi Beier who strikes this time, the Hoffenheim sub taking his time before arcing one wide of the upright. Decent chance.
75'
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Becker miss
Great chance for Becker, who takes advantage of some sloppy Rangers defending before lashing over the bar from inside the area.
69'
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Szalai first
Attila Szalai is on to make his Hoffenheim home debut. The Hungarian defender recently arrived in Sinsheim from Fenerbahce.
67'
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Tom Bischof
60'
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Hoffenheim changes
Justvan, Samassekou, Skov, Damar, Bischof, Beier, Akpoguma & Szalai are on for Kramaric, Prömel, Kaderabek, Stiller, Ozan Kabak, Bülter, Brooks and Bebou.
64'
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Visitors on terms
Amazing, Rangers have pulled it back to 2-2. A Tavernier cross from the right finds Sam Lammers, who gets ahead of his marker and nods home to send the away fans into celebration.
61'
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Jack sees yellow
Ryan Jack pulls Becker to the floor and that's a booking.
61'
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Jack
57'
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Rangers back in it
Tavernier waits for Baumann to dive to his right before dinking the ball high into the opposite corner. Game on.
57'
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Penalty Rangers!
Kabak is the guilty man, the defender tripping Sima inside the area. The visitors with a big chance now ...
53'
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Vogt booked
The Hoffenheim man goes into the referee's notebook and doesn't look best pleased to say the least.
53'
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Kevin Vogt
47'
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How on earth?
Somehow, Hoffenheim haven't added a third. Kaderabek made his way into the box and laid a pass on for Kramaric. Balogun's last-ditch tackle saved Rangers. Amazing block.
46'
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Off we go again ...
We're back underway at the PreZero Arena ...
45'
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Half time
A good showing from Hoffenheim in that first half. Some slick attacking play bodes well for a new season ahead. More to come ...
42'
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TSG at the double
Bebou won't have scored an easier goal than this. Kramaric is inside the area with three Rangers players eyeing him. The Croat tries a few stepovers before rolling a pass to Bebou, who taps in on the line.
37'
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Vogt threat
That's tidy from Kevin Vogt, who takes a pass from Kramaric, pushes inside and delivers a darting, angled pass along the floor that zips across the face of goal. Several players sliding in just couldn't collect.
29'
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Hosts good value
Both teams have created half-chances since Hoffenheim went in front but TSG maintain the edge in this friendly. The hosts look more dangerous when pushing forward too.
23'
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Hoffenheim lead
Perseverance pays off for Kaderabek, who falls to the ground inside the area, gets back to his feet quickly and then fires low past Butland for 1-0.
17'
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Big chance TSG
Hoffenheim fizz it about and Bülter's low cross reaches Stiller, who connects from close range. Butland blocks wide with his legs.
15'
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Baumann relief
Baumann struggles to reach a cross into the area and he's lucky Dessers can only fire the follow up over the bar.
11'
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Rangers up the tempo
Rangers get going and Tavernier lashes one from the right over the crossbar. The visitors are beginning to ping it about with intent.
9'
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Kabak sighter
Kabak with a testing shot from distance which Butland deals with handily enough.
7'
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TSG raise their game
Kramaric and Bebou look menacing as they try to force an opening early on. Plenty of pace now from a Hoffenheim team looking to attack.
4'
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Slow start
Both teams content to knock it about in the early stages as the sun beats down on the stadium. Cracking day for football.
1'
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Peeeep!
Game on! The ball is rolling in this afternoon's friendly in Hoffenheim.
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Hoffenheim starting XI
Baumann - Brooks, Vogt, Kabak - Kaderabek, Grillitsch, Bülter, Prömel, Stiller - Bebou, Kramaric
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Hoffenheim subs
Philipp, Akpoguma, John, Nsoki, Quarshie, Szalai, Becker, Bischof, Conte, Damar, Justvan, Samassekou, Skov, Beier
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Rangers starting XI
Butland - Tavernier (c), Balogun, Yfeko, Yilmaz - Raskin, Lundstram, Cantwell, Sima - Lammers, Dessers
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Rangers subs
McLaughlin, Wright, Barisic, Sterling, Dowell, Hagi, Jack, Matondo, Danilo, Roofe
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Teams out!
Both sides are out performing their respective pre-match warm-ups ahead of today's friendly.
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Szalai steel
Hoffenheim have moved to reinforce their defence in the transfer market by signing Attila Szalai from Fenerbahce. The Hungarian international could make his first appearance for his new club in the friendly against Rangers.
123s
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Last season - Late burst of form takes Hoffenheim to safety
Hoffenheim were rock bottom of the Bundesliga after Matchday 24 of 38, but Pellegrino Matarazzo guided the side to a good run of five wins in nine that helped them to a 12th placed finish. They bowed out in front of their fans with a 4-2 home win against Union Berlin on the penultimate matchday.
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Bundesliga Gers
Three players in Rangers' squad for the friendly have a Bundesliga background. Rabbi Matondo has played 30 times for Schalke, Sam Lammers made 15 Bundesliga appearances for Frankfurt while Leon Balogun has 75 appearances in total for Mainz, Fortuna Düsseldorf, Hannover and Werder Bremen.
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Rangers ready for 2023/24
The Glasgow outfit won a friendly against Bundesliga 2 side Hamburg last weekend but were beaten 1-3 by Olympiakos in another friendly in midweek. They start their Scottish Premier League campaign next weekend in Kilmarnock.
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Hoffenheim hoping for more
You should never read too much into pre-season friendly results, but Hoffenheim fans may be feeling slightly underwhelmed by back-to-back defeats against Elversberg (1-2) and Strasbourg (2-1). The high-profile visit of Rangers offers a chance to make a positive statement.
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Welcome along
We'll keep you up to date here with Hoffenheim's friendly against Rangers, which the Bundesliga side are billing as their season opening match.