1899 Hoffenheim secured a dominant 3-0 victory over SC Freiburg, fueled by a powerful second-half display and two crucial assists from Vladimír Coufal.
1899 Hoffenheim delivered a commanding performance at the PreZero Arena on Saturday, defeating regional rivals SC Freiburg 3-0. A quickfire double early in the second half decided the Bundesliga contest.
Hoffenheim entered the match in formidable form, sitting third in the Bundesliga with five consecutive wins. Freiburg, in seventh, sought points to bolster their European qualification push.
The hosts thought they had an early lead in the 5th minute through Andrej Kramarić. However, VAR intervention correctly ruled out the goal for offside, keeping the score level.
The first half proved a tight affair, marked by strong challenges. Hoffenheim's Bazoumana Touré and Grischa Prömel picked up yellow cards in the 9th and 24th minutes.
Despite Hoffenheim's possession dominance, the deadlock remained at halftime. Both teams knew the next goal would be crucial in this fiercely contested derby.
Hoffenheim quickly broke the stalemate just after the restart in the 46th minute. Fisnik Asllani drilled home the opener, capitalizing on a sharp assist from Vladimír Coufal.
Momentum firmly swung Hoffenheim's way five minutes later. Defender Ozan Kabak headed in a second goal in the 51st minute, again assisted by the impressive Coufal.
Freiburg struggled to respond, making several substitutions to inject fresh impetus. Yet, Hoffenheim’s defense held firm, thwarting their attempts to find a way back into the match.
As the match wound down, substitute Valentin Gendrey added a third for Hoffenheim deep into stoppage time. His 90+5 minute strike from an Anton Prass assist sealed a comprehensive victory.
Statistics underscored Hoffenheim's superiority, with 62% possession and 25 total shots compared to Freiburg's 12. Their xG of 1.8 far surpassed Freiburg's 0.71, reflecting their attacking threat.
This emphatic win solidifies Hoffenheim's position in the Bundesliga top three. It deals a blow to Freiburg's European aspirations, leaving them with much to ponder.
