Baden-Duell in Freiburg ends level

In a Baden-Duell in Breisgau, Freiburg and Hoffenheim were aiming to pick up their third win of the season, with both sides carrying an identical record of two wins and two losses in the Bundesliga.

Today’s hosts dispatched Hoffenheim 3-2 in the corresponding fixture back in April, and the visitors were determined to carry on what has been a strong start to the season in comparison to last term against a Freiburg side fresh off the back of a 2-1 Europa League win against Basel.

Though it was Freiburg who started the best, with the hosts opening the scoring in just the third minute. 

Junior Adamu met a delicious Vincenzo Grifo corner, sending the ball back into the danger area for Lukas Kübler to prod the ball home. After the goal was originally ruled out for offside, a VAR check adjudged the right-back to be onside inside the box, giving the hosts a 1-0 lead. 

The visitors looked to respond immediately, with Andrej Kramaric sending a well-struck volley towards goal that was well saved by Noah Atubolu despite the ball flying through a crowd of bodies. 

Hoffenheim, though, were desperate to prove that they are a different prospect when compared to the side that faced Freiburg back in April. 

Christian Ilzer’s men struck back in the 12th minute, when Vladimir Coufal caught out a lackadaisical Grifo in Freiburg’s half, stealing the ball before sliding the ball across to Fisnik Asllani, who simply couldn’t miss inside the six-yard box.