After the celebrated entry into the Europa League final, SC Freiburg was not quite as lively as usual at Hamburger SV and lost 2:3 (1:1) on matchday 33.
Bakery Jatta (14th minute), Luka Vuskovic (64th) and Fabio Baldé (67th) scored for Hamburg on Sunday afternoon, Igor Matanovic scored the two Freiburg goals (16th and 87th). Despite the defeat, the Breisgau team remained seventh, but failed to secure qualification for international business early. Frankfurt and Augsburg can push SC out of seventh place. Hamburg jumps to 11th place.
Matanovic counters Jatta’s first Bundesliga goal
At HSV, Tottenham loanee Vuskovic celebrated his starting eleven comeback in central defense after an injury break and two short appearances. It is still unclear how and where things will continue for the top talent after the summer break, but it seems impossible for him to appear again in the Volkspark in the HSV jersey. He once again clearly underlined his value for the Hanseatic League this season on this Sunday afternoon. In the 14th minute, the Croatian had to listen to the goal anthem “Always Hardcore” again as a farewell, because Bruno Ogbus couldn’t clear a cross from the left from Otto Stange properly, Albert Grönbaek got the rebound and put it across the far post, where Jatta scored his first ever Bundesliga goal (14th).
Less than 90 seconds later, Hamburg’s celebration had completely died down again: Lukas Kübler crossed accurately from the right and Matanovic volleyed through the legs of Daniel Heuer Fernandes to equalize (16th). The first two chances of the game also led to goals. The opening phase of the game was definitely impressive, Fabio Vieira hit the post shortly after the 1-1 with a wonderful low shot (19th).
Multiple medical emergencies in the stands
The frequency of chances decreased again until the break, but it remained an intense and fast-paced Bundesliga game in which the stands were quiet for long stretches due to several medical emergencies among the fans. The draw at the break was okay, even if the hosts were the slightly more dangerous team.
Hamburg also started the second half dangerously: Less than a minute had been played before Matthias Ginter had to block against the escaping bar and prevented the score from making it 2-1 with his long leg. Unfortunately, the next medical emergency in the stands followed – once again the fan groups largely stopped supporting in solidarity. There was at least tentative applause in the 50th minute when Heuer Fernandes made a strong save to deflect a low shot from Kübler around the post. As in the first half, a scoring opportunity rarely came alone: Shortly afterwards, Ransford Königsdörffer shot just past the right post of the visitors’ goal, which was guarded by Noah Atubolu.
Vuskovic and Baldé strike in a double pack
Just like in the first half, the many chances in a short space of time were followed by a longer phase in which things remained quieter in the penalty areas. It only got really loud again in the 64th minute, when Vuskovic fired a free kick past the wall – the ball would probably have been relatively easy prey for Atubolu, but Maximilian Eggestein deflected the ball so that it went over the line to make it 2-1 – it was the 19-year-old’s sixth goal of the season. And HSV followed up: Baldé, who had just substituted for Jatta, was served in an exemplary manner by Nicolai Remberg, outran all opponents on the right, some of whom were positioned in an adventurous manner, and with strong nerves made it 3-1 (67′).
SC coach Julian Schuster made three substitutions, Derry Scherhant, Anthony Jung and Philipp Lienhart came on for the ailing Ginter, Kübler and Ogbus. It was a little noticeable to the guests that they had reached the Europa League final on Thursday in an exhausting game – and perhaps had also celebrated something. They still had a small final offensive in the tank, but it came too late: after a corner from Vincenzo Grifo, only the score was 2-3 thanks to a Matanovic header (87′). On the other side, Rayan Philippe – against Atubolu – and Arsenal loanee Fabio Vieira – against the goal post – missed making it 4-2 before Vuskovic and Vieira were replaced shortly before the final whistle amidst great celebration.
HSV in Leverkusen, Freiburg against Leipzig
HSV will be visiting Bayer Leverkusen next Saturday. Freiburg welcomes RB Leipzig on the last matchday.
