A STRONG Cherries line-up rounded off the club's pre-season preparations with a keenly-contested 0-0 draw at Hoffenheim this afternoon.

Eddie Howe's men created a number of presentable opportunities in Germany but were denied victory largely thanks to the stellar performance of home goalkeeper Oliver Baumann.

Dan Gosling, Callum Wilson, Shaun MacDonald and Matt Ritchie all had efforts saved on a frustrating afternoon in front of goal at the Rhine-Neckar Arena.

As expected, most of the first-team players that did not feature in last night's 3-2 home defeat to Cardiff took to the pitch against the Bundesliga side with a handful of the club's under-21 squad thrust into the action as the match wore on. 

Cherries controlled the opening exchanges and their customary patient approach teed up Gosling to burst forward from midfield get away a shot, which was well saved.

Callum Wilson, fresh from signing a new four-year deal at Vitality Stadium, was the next to be denied by Baumann, who blocked his close range strike at the near post after the ex-Coventry hitman had sprung the offside trap.

Wilson then had a header tipped round the post before his pass, which would have presented Ritchie with a tap in, was cleared just in front of the goal line.

In a rare foray forward, Tarik Elyounoussi went close early in the second half for the hosts but Cherries continued to dominate.

MacDonald almost broke the deadlock but Baumann pulled off a fine reaction save before Smith ventured forward and was denied by an outstretched paw.

Italian loanee Filippo Costa got 22 minutes of action, while fellow under-21 squad members Josh Wakefield, new recruit  Jordan Green, Joe Quigley, Matt Butcher and ex-Chelsea youngster Jon Muleba featured late in the second half. 

Cherries: Boruc, Smith (Muleba, 88), Elphick, Cook, Mings (Costa, 68), Ritchie, Gosling, MacDonald (Butcher, 87), Stanislas (Quigley, 83), King (Wakefield, 80), Wilson (Green, 80). Unused sub: Allsop (g/k).