First Bundesliga match under Kovac

The champions of the Bundesliga will play the first match in every new season. As we were the first place last season we will be the first club to play in this season.

It will be a hard opponent. Hoffenheim. They placed 3rd as a dark horse in the Bundesliga last season. The match could go two ways. It will be hard or it will be easy as something happened to Hoffenheim. 

Like every dark horse, their best players got poached by other clubs. Due to this, it is unknown how Hoffenheim will play this season.

The game soon started.

We tried to hold possession and find ways to go through their defense.

Hoffenheim too played in a 3-5-2 but the more offensive one. You could also describe it as a 3-3-2-2.

Due to that, it was a heated confrontation between both sides. 

After 13 minutes we had good news and bad news.

Good news. A Bayern player shot the first Bundesliga goal of this season. 

The bad. It was an own goal. 

Grifo sprinted on the left side of the field and sent a through pass to the middle, where Joelinton, their striker, stood. Alaba tried to tackle the ball to the sidelines but hit the ball wrong. The ball was shot straight into Neuer's goal.

Now we were 1:0 behind. 

After that Hoffenheim switched to a 5-3-2 formation for defensive counterattack.

We had a hard time getting the ball to their goal.

All players were basically on Hoffenheim's side of the field. And quite a few in the penalty area.

I had gotten the ball from Kimmich. I had time. I was a few meters away from the penalty area and saw Müller running towards the goal. I quickly chipped the ball over towards Thomas, who now only had one defensive player on him and was in a risky position. Müller quickly rose for the header. He had a superb heading technique and the ball hit the ground once and then bounced into the goal.

Now it was 1:1 again.

Shortly before halftime, I passed the ball to Kimmich. Kimmich ran a bit and suddenly shot. A beautiful long-range shot onto the lower left corner. I was happy. I picked up a free assist.

Soon after it was half time and we went with a 2:1 into the catacombs.

Kovac told me that I would be substituted in the 60th minute.

After going out I knew that I could use all my remaining energy for the last 15 minutes.

So I did. I did as much as I could and had many good solo tries and passes, but nothing happened until the 57th minute.

Hoffenheim was now more up front, but still very defensive with 5 defenders. I was on the right wing and in front of me was their midfielder Grillitsch. I had my back to him. I started to sprint a small bit towards our goal and made a half-circle facing Hoffenheims goal again. It wasn't hard to outsprint Grillitsch as he wasn't fast.

But now another problem. The other midfielder Bittencourt clashed against me. I almost stumbled but still somehow managed to keep possession of the ball. Now there were three defenders in front of me. With Grillitsch behind me, who chased me due to my stumbling, four people were defending me. One from the side. Two in front of me and one behind.

I couldn't pass as I was the most upfront player in the squad.

The first defender from the side came. I made a simple ball roll to evade him. Made a body feint and fake shot. Immediately after I passed the ball through one of the defenders legs and squeezed myself through them. Almost falling down the keeper was now near me. I immediately shot a finesse into the lower left corner, which hit the inner side of the goalpost and was rolling in the net shortly after. I celebrated with my finger on the left and right side stretched out on both sides. (The goal is similar to Musialas against Wolfsburg in February 2023. I couldn't find the gif for it.)

(Look in the comments. I am too dumb to describe the celebration)

Shortly after I was subbed off and Robben came on. Coman now played as the offensive midfielder. Gnabry came to the left wing and Robben to his usual right-wing.

After I was subbed out the game continued as before and Lewandowski made a header from a cross from Gnabry.

The game ended with a 4:1 victory for us.