After another brilliant performance, SC Freiburg has its sights set on participating in the Champions League for the first time. The cup finalists won 4:3 (1:1) at TSG Hoffenheim on matchday 32 of the Bundesliga. The Breisgauer have at least temporarily conquered fourth place.
Roland Sallai (23′), Christian Günter (50′), Lucas Höler (70′) and Woo-Yeong Jeong (73′) scored for Freiburg, who are one point ahead of RB Leipzig. The fifth has to go to Borussia Mönchengladbach on Monday. TSG is still on the decline and, after seven games without a win, has finally lost sight of the European Cup. The goals from Andrej Kramaric (32′), Angelo Stiller (49′) and Sebastian Rudy (84′) didn’t change that. The SC Freiburg, on the other hand, is certainly international thanks to the win.
In front of 23,627 spectators in Sinsheim, Hoffenheim dominated the opening phase. After a mistake by Freiburg defender Manuel Gulde, TSG star striker Kramaric frittered away the first opportunity (7′).
Freiburg, who had to do without Yannik Keitel, Kevin Schade and Noah Weißhaupt, found it difficult to get into the game. In the game forward, the Breisgauer hardly achieved anything, the otherwise strong outside players were not only valid. The three-man defense didn’t work very well either.
Despite the problems in all areas, the team of coach Christian Streich took the lead with the first successful offensive action. After preparatory work by Höler, the Hungarian Sallai didn’t give the former SC goalkeeper Oliver Baumann a chance.
SC Freiburg turns the game
After taking the lead, the guests briefly took control, but Hoffenheim scored the goal. After a cross from national player David Raum, Croatian vice world champion Kramaric was there. It was only the attacker’s fifth goal of the season, which had come under criticism in recent weeks.
In the 39th minute, Austria’s Christoph Baumgartner squandered the opportunity for the hosts, who were missing Ermin Bicakcic, Benjamin Hübner, Marco John, Havard Nordtveit, Stefan Posch and Chris Richards.
At the beginning of the second round, Streich switched from a three-man to a four-man defense and brought in his super joker, Nils Petersen. The measure initially backfired. After preliminary work by Kramaric, Stiller scored. However, the SC was only shocked for a few seconds, and captain Günter immediately equalized.
After the two early goals in the second half, the match really picked up speed. Both teams played with open sights to win. Höler missed the best chance in this phase (62nd).
Shortly thereafter, Hoffenheim’s Diadie Samassekou was very lucky not to see a yellow-red card (69′). Höler scored the free kick that was due. It was already the 24th standard goal for Freiburg, who are leading the league. Shortly thereafter, South Korean Jeong, who had just come on, raised the ball. Rudy once again caused excitement.
