Ihlas Bebou and Marius Bulter profited from indecision in the City backline. But Jon Rowe capped a vibrant second half showing with a clinical counter-attacking finish, before Brad Hills pounced from Marcelino Nunez’s corner to earn Johannes Hoff Thorup’s squad a draw against last season’s top seven Bundesliga side.
Jose Cordoba sat out Norwich City’s friendly with a muscular knock, but Angus Gunn and Josh Sargent returned, with new signing Ben Chrisene on the bench.
Chrisene’s move from Aston Villa was confirmed earlier on Tuesday, after linking up with the Canaries following his move for an undisclosed fee from the Midlands.
Kellen Fisher was due to start at left back but was ruled out with suspected tonsillitis. Adam Idah and Christian Fassnacht were both in attendance but watching from the sidelines.
Idah did take part in an aerobic fitness session to the side of the pitch in St Johann in the closing stages. Then a follow up session on the pitch after the final whistle.
Grant Hanley started on the right hand side of the City defence, with Hills next to Guilherme Montoia.
Hanley appeared to miss the flight of Bebou’s whipped cross but Hills was able to deal with the danger in front of Gunn.
Borja Sainz took exception to a challenge from Pavel Kaderabek, but the referee was quick to intervene with a word to both parties.
David Jurasek’s anguished cry could be heard in all four corners of the ground in the 11th minute after appearing to land awkwardly on his arm following an aerial tussle with Rowe.
The stretcher was immediately called for as both sets of players took the chance for a drinks break in the sweltering temperatures.
Hoffenheim took the lead swiftly after Juarsek had left the action when Bebou arrived at the back post to slot underneath Gunn from close range, after a flowing counter had left City outnumbered down their right.
Luca Philipp was almost caught out by Sargent’s energetic pressing on the restart but the Germans got numbers back.
City fell two behind in the 26th minute with a sloppy concession from a deep free kick. Bebou got around Jack Stacey at the far post to re-direct the ball for Bulter to finish with a simple tap in.
Gunn was booked in the 26th minute for racing from his line to halt Max Moerstedt on another pacy counter.
City’s best attacking moment in a testing first 30 minutes came when Kenny McLean and Nunez combined to release Gabby Sara, who advanced to crack a low swinging shot that was shovelled behind for a corner.
Kevin Akpoguma headed another free kick over but this time Norwich had numbers around the leaping Hoffenheim defender at Gunn’s near post.
Sainz had a couple of sighters in the closing stages of the opening period, with his low cross blocked before Philipp races from his line to prevent the Spaniard from hurdling his challenge.
Stacey got himself into an advanced position before a cutback for Rowe, who saw his snapshot blocked.
Montoia got around on the cover sharply at the opposite end as Tom Bishof threatened to finish another rapid counter after a concerted spell of City possession.
Thorup made three changes at the interval, with Shane Duffy, Jaden Warner, and Liam Gibbs replacing Montoia, Hanley and Sargent.
Rowe underlined his predatory instincts to race away from the flat-footed Hoffenheim backline and lash home on his left foot from 20 yards.
The England Under-20 international was then booked for a fully committed challenge on Muhammed Damar that clearly irked the German’s team mates.
Rowe slalomed his way through again before Hoffenheim cleared the danger, and Gibbs was denied before Hills volleyed Nunez’s corner home in the 66th minute.
Gunn was withdrawn for the final quarter, along with Sara and Sainz. Abu Kamara marked his introduction with a burst down the left and cut back that was just slightly behind Rowe, who sensed another goal.
Chrisene was introduced for his City debut in the 77th minute, replacing Stacey and wearing the number 14 shirt.
The former Aston Villa prospect made his presence felt with a crunching challenge on Julian Justvan, but there could have been a debut day goal in a triple chance for the Canaries in the closing seconds.
Onel Hernandez’s initial shot was blocked after leading the counter, before Nunez struck a post and Chrisene stabbed his follow up into the ground.
Hoffenheim (starting XI): Philipp, Kaderabek, Drexler, Promel ©, Bishof, Bebou, Stach, Jurasek, Akpoguma, Moerstedt, Micheler.
Goals: Bebou (20), Bulter (26)
City: Gunn (Long, 70), Stacey (Chrisene, 77), Hanley (Duffy, 45), Hills (Adegboyega, 83), Montoia (Warner, 45), Nunez, McLean (Hernandez, 77), Sara (Forsyth, 70), Rowe (Myles, 83), Sargent (Gibbs, 45), Sainz (Kamara, 70). Subs (not used): Barden, Renecke.
Bookings: Gunn, Rowe
Goals: Rowe (52), Hills (66)
