BERLIN, Sept. 7 -- Times have changed and it will be evident when the 2017 German champion Bayern Munich clashes with TSG Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga this Saturday evening.

The "small" club situated near the romantic town of Heidelberg was once regarded as a new rival for the Bavarians in German football. Meanwhile, Hoffenheim has become a fixture in the regular in the country's first division and one that provides talented players for top club's like Bayern and Borussia Dortmund.

Nevertheless, Hoffenheim is still an exciting project and one that, in contrast to many clubs, does not rely on an investor. Quite the opposite to RB Leipzig, which is aiming to break into Europe's elite with the support of Austrian billionaire Dietrich Mateschitz, Hoffenheim's club owner wants his club to be able to be independent.

When making its way up to the Bundesliga in 2008, SAP Software founder and billionaire Dietmar Hopp is said to have invested over 300 million euro. Instead of however aiming to the top, which would have meant spending much more, Hoffenheim regards itself as a club that develops highly talented youngsters. Therefore the club needs to gain transfer income.

Recently, the German internationals Sebastian Rudy and Niklas Suele (20 million euro) joined Bayern Munich from Hoffenheim, like Luiz Gustavo (17 million euro) in 2011. Carlos Eduardo (25 million) once joined former Russian champion Rubi Kazan and just two weeks ago 23-year old Jeremy Toljan (seven million) departed for Borussia Dortmund.

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