At the end of the seventh match day of the Bundesliga, TSG Hoffenheim and SC Freiburg parted ways in a duel between North and South Baden.
Hoffenheim coach André Breitenreiter only made one change in the starting line-up compared to the 4-1 win against Mainz 05. Angelino started for the injured Robert Skov (thigh). SC trainer Streich trusted exactly the same team during the week won the Europa League game at Olympiacos Piraeus 3-0. After Union Berlin’s 2-0 win over VfL Wolfsburg early on Sunday evening, the Freiburg team was no longer able to climb to the top of the Bundesliga table.
Freiburg under a lot of pressure from the start
Nevertheless, the guests from Freiburg started as usual and tried to stop the attacks and the fast play of Hoffenheim from the start. The very concentrated work against the ball meant that TSG hardly had any room to build up their own game in a controlled manner from their own half. So the hosts tried to overcome the Freiburg defense with long balls and thus got the first chance of the game. Grischa Prömel’s shot from the right failed at Freiburg keeper Mark Flekken (11′). Five minutes later, the visitors had their first chance to score. Hoffenheim’s Kevin Akpoguma carelessly lost the ball against Ritsu Doan, which he had previously successfully run. The Japanese took aim from an acute angle and forced TSG keeper Oliver Baumann, who was in his 400th Bundesliga game, to make his first save (15′).
Balanced duel
The offensive actions then increased. After a free-kick from Vincenzo Grifo, Daniel Kyereh took heart at the second attempt and shot from the right-hand field. The ball went just over the Hoffenheim goal (20th). In return, Prömel reappeared in front of Mark Flekken’s goal after a cross from the left. The Dutchman was able to clear the shot from close range to a corner (21′). After a good ten minutes without any major chances to score, it was SC captain Christian Günter who intensified Freiburg’s offensive efforts a little with a long-range shot. His shot just missed the Hoffenheim goal (30′). A header attempt by his teammate Matthias Ginter was to remain the last chance to score in the first half (38′). It was 0-0 at the break.
Baumgartner and Eggestein just miss
Both teams came out of the dressing room unchanged. And after less than 90 seconds there was also the first chance of the second round. Angelino played a header to Christoph Baumgartner in the Freiburg penalty area. The hurrying Flekken shortened the angle well and Baumgartner’s shot went just over the goal of the guests (46th). On the other side, the SC captain tried again a few minutes later. Günter, who had previously been warned for a foul on Baumgartner, tried a low shot, but it was scrambled by Hoffenheim’s defense (50′). Maxi Eggestein, who received the ball from Kyereh, made it almost perfect. But his shot from a good 16 yards out just missed the goal (60′). After 64 minutes, Hoffenheim’s coach Breitenreiter changed. Munas Dabbur and Muhammed Damar replaced Dennis Geiger and Christoph Baumgartner.
Freiburg legs are getting tired
Fifteen minutes before the end of the game, Freiburg’s intensive game week became noticeable. The pace of the Breisgauer slowed down a little, but after the game against Borussia Mönchengladbach and Olympiacos Piraeus the same starting formation was still on the pitch for the third game in a row. Christian Streich then made three changes and swapped the offensive line behind the striker Michael Gregorych completely off. Noah Weißhaupt, Kevin Schade and Woo-yeong Jeong (79′) came on for Doan, Kyereh and Grifo. But initially only TSG was active in the offensive. Georginio Rutter first tunneled Günter, then plays Weißhaupt. Philipp Lienhart cleared his pass into the middle at the last second (79′). Hoffenheim coach Breitenreiter now seemed to want to secure the point win. Sebastian Rudy (81st) came in for the pale Andrej Kramaric. And Freiburg changed again. But even record joker Nils Petersen (replacing Gregor table) could no longer correct the result, because the last action of the game belonged to jubilarian Oliver Baumann. The latter was able to clear a deflected cross from Akpobuma shortly before the end and remains in his 400th Bundesliga game for the 100th time without conceding a goal.
After the international break we continue
After the international break, SC Freiburg host Mainz 05 on October 1st (3:30 p.m.). Hoffenheim has to play at Hertha BSC on Sunday, October 2 (3:30 p.m.).
