Cologne 2-3 Hoffenheim
Goals: 0-1 Kramaric (4’), 1-1 Andersson (22’), 1-2 Kramaric (pen. 45’+3), 2-2 Drexler (86'), 2-3 Kramaric (90'+2)

Having failed to win any of their 10 Bundesliga games following last season’s restart, Cologne were desperate to wipe the slate clean in their opening match of 2020/21. However, they found themselves a goal down inside four minutes at the RheinEnergieStadion when captain Jonas Hector’s lax pass back was intercepted by Kramaric, who nutmegged the stranded Timo Horn and rolled home. Hoffenheim continued to push on the front foot, but Horn – who has seen off competition from FIFA World Cup winner Ron-Robert Zieler to retain his No.1 status – twice produced good saves to deny Kramaric again and then Pavel Kaderabek. The Billy Goats suddenly burst into life and were immediately rewarded when Sebastian Andersson, who signed from Union Berlin just four days ago, headed in a Jan Thielmann cross. The advantage swung back the way of TSG, however, when Christoph Baumgartner was taken down in the box by Rafael Czichos. A penalty was awarded after a VAR review and confidently converted by Kramaric shortly before the break.

Cologne were close to an immediate reply at the start of the second half but Andersson, this time with his foot, was denied from point-blank range by Baumann. The hosts remained the most likely as they pushed for a second equaliser but failed to create any clear-cut chances. It took Hoffenheim until almost the 70th minute to register their first attempt of the second period when Dennis Geiger forced a save out of Horn. Another new signing from Berlin, Ondrej Duda tested Baumann late on with a curling effort that could only be parried into the path of Dominick Drexler, but the Cologne sub put his rebound into the side netting. He made amends five minutes from time, though, after Andersson’s header from a free-kick had come back off the post and provided a simple tap-in. It was Kramaric, though, who had the final say as he completed his hat-trick in injury time after deceiving a number of Cologne defenders. It leaves Effzeh without a league win since the start of March, while UEFA Europa League qualifiers Hoffenheim get new boss Hoeneß’s reign off to a successful start in his first Bundesliga game as a coach.

Kramaric hat-trick earns Hoffenheim three points in Cologne

Duda joins Cologne from Hertha