Victory against Hoffenheim: Doppelpacker Höler lets Freiburg dream of Europe

Important victory in the race for the European Cup places: SC Freiburg won on the 30th matchday of the Bundesliga against TSG Hoffenheim.

The Breisgauer celebrated their second victory in a row on Holy Saturday (April 19, 2025) at 3: 2 (2: 2) against the TSG and jumped to fifth place in the table. Freiburg had taken the lead through the goals of Lucas Höler (28th minute) and Ritsu Doan (36th).

Höler: “A very nice day”

Shortly before the break, Hoffenheim also made a double strike, Marius Bülter (45.+2) and Andrej Kramaric (45.+5) equalized before the change of sides. In the second half, Höler again scored the 3-2 winning goal.

“As a striker in Freiburg, goals are extremely good,” said Höler after the game: “I am pleased that it worked twice and we won. It’s a very nice day.”

Manzambi celebrates starting elements

In the starting eleven of SC Freiburg, coach Julian Schuster made a total of three changes, one of them forced: attacker Junior Adamu was missing yellow -locked, in his place Johan Manzambi celebrated his starting debut. The 19-year-old had In the 2-1 in Mönchengladbach in the previous week scored the Freiburg winning goal. In addition, Christian Günter and Max Rosenfelder rotated onto the bench, Jordy Makengo and – after the lock – Matthias Ginter.

On the other hand, TSG Hoffenheim went to a Bundesliga game for the first time this season with an unchanged starting eleven. As with the 2-0 home win against Mainz, the apparently counted coach Christian Ilzer On the double leadership Haris Tabakovic and Bazoumana Touré, in the offensive midfield, as so often, Andrej Kramaric should cause steam. And it was precisely this plan.

Hoffenheim has the first chances

Because the first minutes of the game clearly belonged to the bravely attacking guests. The high pressing of the Kraichgauer gave Kraichgau the first chance that prevailed against three opponents in the Freiburg penalty area and forced SC keeper Florian Müller into a single-hand rescue act (4th). Shortly afterwards it was Kramaric again, but the second shot of the Croatian from around 20 meters left just past the goal (8th).

And the home side? Took a few minutes to find the front door to this game – but then took part in an overall attractive initial phase with great joy. After almost a quarter of an hour, the Breisgauer put pressure on for the first time, but Manzambi stumbled shortly before graduation, so that his attempted shot could ultimately be easily blocked (14th). Five minutes later, Manzambi then brought the ball towards Hoffenheimer Tor, but the striker only hit the post (19th).

Höler and Doan meet for Freiburg

Now the Freiburg were much better in the game – and also extremely efficient. After about half an hour they managed to do a double strike within eight minutes: First Höler scored 1-0 (28th), then Doan (36.) expanded the lead. For Höler it was the fourth goal of the season at that moment, for Doan the ninth. The Japanese is therefore Freiburg’s best goal scorer.

When everything and everyone on a two-goal lead were mentally faced with the half-time break, the guests turned up again in the long stoppage time of the first round. First Bülter Hoffenheim brought up 1: 2 (45.+2), then Kramaric even achieved the equalization (45.+5). In both situations, the hosts suddenly missed every defensive order. Measured by the game shares that Hoffenheim had in the initial phase, the 2-2 break was not undeserved from a TSG perspective.

Again Freiburg, Höler again

As far as the first half went and ended, behavior started the second. The TSG was noticed by its own double strike shortly before the change of sides, but because of the tougher duels, the action was repeatedly interrupted. There were no dangerous offensive actions at first – up to the 57th minute.

Then Freiburg’s attacker Höler was once again right. A long ball from the central defense landed over the Stations of Doan and Vincenzo Grifo at the goal scorer, who only had to insert in the Hoffenheim penalty area. Höler’s second double pack this season, Already in the first half of the season against Mönchengladbach he had hit twice.

TSG tries: violinist blocked, hlozek over it

However, the guests could not be completely unsubscribed from the new deficit. The Kraichgauer still tried to make their own offensive campaigns, but now lost some risk. Dennis Geiger, who had substituted at the second half, gave the only Hoffenheim shot attempt that was blocked within the Freiburg penalty area (65.). Adam Hlozek pulled the ball over the goal (78th).

In the final phase of the game, the guests were increasingly on the accelerator pedal, but there was no longer any danger to develop. Freiburg cheered for the 3-2 home win in the Baden-Württemberg duel.

“We had decent options and built a lot of pressure,” said TSG goalkeeper Oliver Baumann: “But they defend it very well in the back. We go home empty-handed. For the performance of both teams, that’s not enough for us.”

Freiburg now against Wolfsburg, Hoffenheim against Dortmund

On the 31st Bundesliga match day, SC Freiburg will compete at VfL Wolfsburg. The game on Saturday (April 26th, 2025) will kick off at 3:30 p.m. At the same time, TSG Hoffenheim competes against Borussia Dortmund in its own stadium.

Prize on Sat., April 7, 2025 2:00 p.m., stadium, SWR1 Baden-Württemberg