Mikey Moore stole the show with two second half goals, both assisted by Mathys Tel, but it was far from one-way traffic against the team that finished fifth in the Bundesliga last season as Antonin Kinsky was tested on a few occasions and Adam Hlozek clipped the crossbar.
The visitors’ open style and our front-foot intent meant an entertaining encounter as almost 55,000 fans returned ‘home’ to N17.
They got to see four of our new signings – Jan Paul van Hecke, Marcos Senesi, Andy Robertson and Sandro Tenali – all play at home for the first time with Robertson key to the opening goal on 35 minutes, a clever cut back picked out Richarlison, who swept home first-time with his left foot.
Moore did superbly to get across his defender and finish Tel’s cross on 59 minutes and had a bit more to do after another Tel run set him up on 80 minutes, this time taking a great touch before finishing across Oliver Baumann into the corner.
Speaking to SPURSPLAY afterwards, Roberto reflected: “It was a good performance, a good day because we needed to increase and to improve the physical condition. For that, we decided to play 75 minutes for every player and tomorrow we play again (against Hoffenheim at Hotspur Way, 12 noon) with the players who didn't play today.
“We suffered in the first half without the ball because the style of Hoffenheim is clear, it's different, it's a particular style, they move, make a lot of rotation. In the second half, we defended better and with the ball, I think we played well, built up well, created many chances.
“It was a challenge playing against a team who plays with this style of play. When you prepare the game, you have the reference, the player in the specific position. If the opponent moves, they go around the pitch, they put many players over the line of the ball.
“If you regain the ball, you can go to score because in the first half, we had Mathys Tel, Lucas Bergvall, Conor Gallagher. In the second half, we had two chances and we could score. It was a good day.”