For the Lovers
BVB – my dearest enemy: Borussia Dortmund and
BVB – my dearest enemy: Borussia Dortmund and their supporters began campaigning against the upstarts from Kraichgau from day one.
their supporters began campaigning against the upstarts from Kraichgau from day one. Abuse directed at patron Dietmar Hopp, banners placing the SAP founder in crosshairs and other forms of tastelessness ensured that BVB against Hoffenheim would probably never become a “normal” Bundesliga fixture. Hoffenheim have occasionally answered on the pitch.
On 21 September 2008 they beat Dortmund 4–1 in Mannheim. Jürgen Klopp’s side lost by a greater margin only once more during his years in charge, the 1–5 against Bayern in September 2009. Later Hoffenheim delivered more stings: a 3–3 in Dortmund on 9 February 2019 after trailing 0–3, and a 2–1 home win on matchday 17 of 2019/20, again after falling behind.
“The DFB-Pokal – the really big thing”: Kristian
“The DFB-Pokal – the really big thing”: Kristian Arambasic became an annual-review legend with his dressing-room speech to SG Aumund-Vegesack before the cup match against Hoffenheim on 3 August 2013. “DFB-Pokal, the really big thing, that is what we have here today,” he roared, before promising to rip Hoffenheim apart.
Arambasic became an annual-review legend with his dressing-room speech to SG Aumund-Vegesack before the cup match against Hoffenheim on 3 August 2013. “DFB-Pokal, the really big thing, that is what we have here today,” he roared, before promising to rip Hoffenheim apart. That worked only up to a point. After a goalless first half, Hoffe showed the amateurs where the hammer hung and won 9–0. Along with a 9–0 against USC Paloma Hamburg, it remained Hoffenheim’s biggest DFB-Pokal win by December 2019.
The greatest success in Hoffenheim’s history came under
The greatest success in Hoffenheim’s history came under Julian Nagelsmann: in 2017/18 Hoffe stormed to third place in the Bundesliga and direct qualification for the Champions League.
Julian Nagelsmann: in 2017/18 Hoffe stormed to third place in the Bundesliga and direct qualification for the Champions League. The decision came on 12 May 2018 in the direct showdown with Borussia Dortmund, which Hoffenheim won 3–1. A year earlier Nagelsmann’s men had already reached the playoff round for the Champions League by finishing fourth, though Liverpool ended that dream with a 2–1 and 4–2 aggregate victory.
Pogo at the Betzenberg: in the 2013 relegation
Pogo at the Betzenberg: in the 2013 relegation playoff against Kaiserslautern, all of football Germany seemed to root for the traditional club and against the “village inhabited by stubborn Hoffenheimers”.
playoff against Kaiserslautern, all of football Germany seemed to root for the traditional club and against the “village inhabited by stubborn Hoffenheimers”. Even ARD commentator Steffen Simon could not resist a jab before the second leg in Kaiserslautern: “Pan the camera over there so people can see the empty seats in the Hoffenheim section.” It was all for nothing. Hoffenheim won 3–1 on aggregate and 2–1 on the Betzenberg, then celebrated with a pogo dance in front of that supposedly empty away end.
By the way, Kaiserslautern’s attempt at cup revenge in 2018/19 also failed. Hoffe won 6–1 in the Palatinate in round one.
By the horns: no Bundesliga club took a
By the horns: no Bundesliga club took a worse beating from Hoffenheim than 1.
worse beating from Hoffenheim than 1. FC Köln on 31 March 2018. Hoffenheim tore the Geißböcke apart 6–0 at the PreZero Arena. Future Bayern winger Serge Gnabry and Cologne-born Mark Uth each scored twice.
Berlin is worth a trip: on 21 December
Berlin is worth a trip: on 21 December 2014 the representatives of the smallest Bundesliga location beat the representatives of the biggest one 5–0.
2014 the representatives of the smallest Bundesliga location beat the representatives of the biggest one 5–0. The triumph at Hertha remains Hoffenheim’s highest away win in the Bundesliga.
The 2007/08 season: Hoffenheim’s greatest number of wins
The 2007/08 season: Hoffenheim’s greatest number of wins in the first or second division came in 2007/08, the promotion season to the Bundesliga.
in the first or second division came in 2007/08, the promotion season to the Bundesliga. Rangnick’s side won 17 of 34 matches.
Best goal difference: Nagelsmann’s Hoffenheim recorded their...
Best goal difference: Nagelsmann’s Hoffenheim recorded their best Bundesliga goal difference in 2016/17, when they reached the Champions League playoffs and the Europa League: plus 27.
Best goal difference: Nagelsmann’s Hoffenheim recorded their best Bundesliga goal difference in 2016/17, when they reached the Champions League playoffs and the Europa League: plus 27. Andrej Kramarić and Sandro Wagner were the top scorers with 15 and 11 goals.
Longest winning streak: Hoffenheim’s longest run of consecut...
Longest winning streak: Hoffenheim’s longest run of consecutive wins came in the second Bundesliga in 2007/08, seven straight victories from matchday ...
Longest winning streak: Hoffenheim’s longest run of consecutive wins came in the second Bundesliga in 2007/08, seven straight victories from matchday 18 to 24.
Most wins in a season: 17, again in
Most wins in a season: 17, again in the 2007/08 promotion campaign....
the 2007/08 promotion campaign.
Longest unbeaten run in either of Germany’s top
Longest unbeaten run in either of Germany’s top two divisions: Hoffenheim went 17 matches unbeaten in 2016/17....
two divisions: Hoffenheim went 17 matches unbeaten in 2016/17.
TSG vs. league average
For the Lovers — Update 2020–2026
In 2025/26, under coach Christian Ilzer, TSG played impressive football and joined the race for the European places.
In 2025/26, under coach Christian Ilzer, TSG played
In 2025/26, under coach Christian Ilzer, TSG played impressive football and joined the race for the European places.
impressive football and joined the race for the European places. Qualification for Europe would have been the club’s biggest success since the Nagelsmann era.