Aue played bravely but was too harmless against an efficient Hoffenheim team

The Europa League opener proved to be too much for Erzgebirge Aue. In their 25th DFB Cup appearance since reunification, the third-division relegated team lost to TSG 1899 Hoffenheim 0–4 (0–3). In front of 8,199 spectators at the Erzgebirgsstadion, Patrick Wimmer (6th minute) gave the visitors the lead, before Wouter Burger (17th) and Wimmer again (45+1) extended the lead. After the break, Max Moerstedt (63rd) scored to seal the final score. 

Veteran Männel Steps In for Uhlig

Hoffenheim, who opted for Luca Philipp in goal instead of captain and national team goalkeeper Oliver Baumann and also approached the cup match without striker Fisnik Asllani (recovery training), came under pressure right from the first minute. Aue’s Willi Kamm collided with new signing Mats Rots, and the Erzgebirge players vehemently demanded a penalty—to no avail. 

The first-division team’s response wasn’t long in coming. Wimmer (5th) took a shot from 11 meters out and forced Aue’s veteran Martin Männel to make his first save. A minute later, the Austrian hammered the ball into the net from close range on the right for an early lead. 

Then a foul by Ozan Kabak on Aue’s captain Marcel Bär in midfield went unpunished; Burger (17th minute) capitalized on Wimmer’s through ball and slotted it home to make it 2–0 for the Kraichgau side. As a result, the Northeast Regional League team’s game plan didn’t quite work out.

Coach Khvicha Shubitidze opted for experience in goal with Männel instead of homegrown talent Max Uhlig. “As always, he’ll stay calm and maybe even slow down the game for us at times so that Hoffenheim can’t play at full speed,” Shubitidze explained beforehand. But Hoffenheim was extremely efficient in front of the goal. 

Aue didn’t manage a single shot on goal in the first half

The Saxons had already had five matchdays to get into their rhythm. Shubitidze had identified this as “one of the few advantages that might work in our favor today.” Aue played well, too, but lacked precision in the final third. As a result, there were still no shots on goal after half an hour.

But Hoffenheim also missed opportunities: Tim Lemperle (36') failed to seal the deal with a 3-0 lead when, from the left side of the penalty area, he shot straight at Männel. Then, following a botched defensive play by Aue, the ball landed at Wimmer’s feet, and he scored from eleven meters to make it 3–0 (45’+1).

After the break, the game lost some of its pace. TSG coach Christian Ilzer then made a number of substitutions after an hour. Substitute Max Moerstedt (63rd) scored the 4–0 goal just two minutes after coming on, calmly slotting the ball past Männel.