FIRST TEAM

01/20/2024

Late defeat in thrilling Baden derby

No points at the start of the second half-season: TSG Hoffenheim have lost 3-2 (1-0) away to SC Freiburg following a turbulent final phase. Lucas Höler put the home team in front in the first half, before Vincenzo Grifo doubled the advantage for the South Baden side shortly after the half-time break (55). Wout Weghorst (57) and Maximilian Beier (77) then got Hoffenheim back into the game, only for Rolland Sallai to score and seal a late win for Freiburg, who had been reduced to 10 men by Manuel Gulde's dismissal (85).

Line-ups

Head coach Pellegrino Matarazzo made one change to the starting line-up that suffered a 3-0 defeat away to FC Bayern Munich. Finn Becker replaced the suspended Grischa Prömel.

The scenario

TSG went into the matchday in eighth place with 24 points. SC Freiburg were one place and one point above Hoffenheim.

Moment of the match

Freiburg's goal for 3-2: TSG were on the cusp of turning the game around but after Andrej Kramarić lost possession, Roland Sallai scored at the second attempt for Freiburg. Kramarić appealed for a free-kick but it was not awarded.

Number of the game: 350

The 3-2 loss away to SC Freiburg was Oliver Baumann's 350th competitive appearance in a TSG shirt. Hoffenheim's record appearance-maker thus extended his lead.

Glimmer of hope

After Maximilian Beier equalised at 2-2 (77) and Manuel Gulde was sent off (82), it looked as though TSG would pick up at least one point, but it was ultimately not enough to come away with a point again.

Outlook

TSG Hoffenheim finally have a home game again next week. TSG will play host to 1. FC Heidenheim at 15:30 CET on Saturday.

Stats

Line-ups:

SC Freiburg: Atubolu – Sildillia, Ginter, Gulde – Sallai (Keitel, 88), Eggestein, Röhl (Höfler, 84), Makengo – Höler (Weißhaupt, 84), Grifo (Kübler, 75) – Gregoritsch

TSG Hoffenheim: Baumann – Ozan Kabak, Grillitsch, Nsoki (Bischof, 89) – Kadeřábek (Bebou, 60), Stach, Bülter (Skov, 60) – Becker (Tohumcu, 60), Kramarić – Weghorst, Beier

Goals: 1-0 Höler (37), 2-0 Grifo (55), 2-1 Weghorst (57), 2-2 Beier (77), 3-2 Sallai (85)

Red card: Gulde (82)

Match highlights

17. Min.

First chance of the match

Big chance to make it 1-0: After some controlled build-up play, Kadeřábek is through down the right and finds Kramarić in the middle, who gets a shot away from a central position but fires straight at Atubolu.

21. Min.

Baumann makes strong save

Freiburg have their first shot and pose a danger straightaway: Grifo cuts into the middle from the left and aims for the far corner from 20 metres, but Baumann extends himself and makes a strong save.

37. Min.

Höler scores for Freiburg

That was too easy: Grifo dribbles through brilliantly on the left and crosses into the middle to Höler, who is narrowly onside and slots home artistically.

40. Min.

Baumann with the tips of his toes

Almost 2-0: Grifo threads through perfectly to Höler, who is through on Baumann but the TSG keeper makes a save with the tips of his toes. That was important.

55. Min.

The goal for 2-0

Grillitsch loses the ball as the last man. Grifo keeps his cool, cuts inside from the right and slots into the bottom left corner.

57. Min.

A goal back

Beier cuts the ball back in the box to Weghorst, whose left-footed shot strikes the post and ends up in the back of the net. A strange goal.

77. Min.

Beier equalises with a cracker

Grillitsch plays a superb pass from his own half into the path of Beier, who gets the better of two Freiburg players and thunders the ball against the inside of the upright and into the goal.

85. Min.

Sallai puts Freiburg into the lead

Freiburg score with 10 men. Kramaric loses the ball and does not get the free-kick. The danger is actually cleared, but Sallai follows up and scores at the second attempt after initially being thwarted by Baumann.

Match facts and statistics »

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