1st matchday
Freiburg’s dream start: victory in the Baden derby against Hoffenheim
Freiburg prevailed in Hoffenheim in a hard-fought game. photo
© Uwe Anspach/dpa
SC Freiburg fought a win in Hoffenheim at the start of the season and thus underlined its ambitions to be at the top this season as well.
In front of 25,890 spectators, Attila Szalai scored an own goal in the 39th minute and Roland Sallai (45+3) for Freiburg, who last lost in Sinsheim in 2018. Ozan Kabak (50th) only managed to connect the hosts, who had to do without new signing Wout Weghorst for a short time. The striker was out due to a hamstring problem and watched the fast-paced game from the stands.
From the start, both teams delivered an open exchange of blows. The hosts were celebrating after just five minutes, but Andrej Kramaric’s goal was disallowed because the Croatian was ruled offside.
On the other side, TSG goalkeeper Oliver Baumann had to show his skills twice within 60 seconds. First he defused a shot from Michael Gregoritsch, then a header from the Freiburg striker.
Stormy initial phase
After the stormy initial phase, it became a little quieter in front of both goals. The game now played mainly between the penalty areas, but without getting boring. Hoffenheim was always trying, but could not crack the compact defensive of the Europa League participant.
The guests held back bravely and did not take the lead undeservedly, even if luck was on their side. A cross from Christian Günter deflected Szalai into his own goal after John Anthony Brooks had previously deflected the ball.
The SC was now on the trigger. Baumann deflected a shot from Lukas Kübler with his foot to the crossbar, shortly afterwards Gregoritsch just missed the target with a header. Sallai, who scored from close range, did better. Hoffenheim unsuccessfully complained about a foul in a previous duel between the goal scorer and Pavel Kaderabek.
Shortly after the restart, Kabak came into focus twice. The TSG defender first saved Gregoritsch’s shot on the line and thus saved his team from an early knockout, then he hit the other side with a low shot into the corner to connect.
Hoffenheim now pushed for the 2: 2, but also offered the Breisgauers more space, which the guests used for a number of dangerous advances. The best chance was missed by Vincenzo Grifo (60th), who hit the post.
In the final phase, TSG threw everything forward again, but they couldn’t equalize. On the contrary, Freiburg could have increased, but Baumann deflected a shot by substitute Noah Weißhaupt with a reflex in added time to the post.