TSG 1899 Hoffenheim: How SAP and AI can topple Crystal Palace, and scouts

Ahead of their Europa League tie with Crystal Palace, Matt Hardy spoke to TSG 1899 Hoffenheim and SAP about how technology and AI is driving their team. The last couple of months have been littered with stories of Artificial Intelligence (AI) models going rogue, causing havoc and ignoring their human handlers; much like a superstar striker who refuses to sit in a 4-4-2 formation and park the bus. Football is embracing technology. Computers and screens are being used to give or strike off goals; data is now firmly embedded in player analysis – in a move that has helped the likes of Brighton and Hove Albion and Hearts – and now Bundesliga side TSG 1899 Hoffenheim are using AI to help in their deadline day recruitment and matchday preparation. The club take on Crystal Palace in south east London on Thursday, and their head of football intelligence Timo Gross says that their use of technology developed by German software firm SAP – the club’s front-of-shirt sponsor – is aiding the