BVB – my dearest enemy: Borussia Dortmund and 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.
