Dhe TSG Hoffenheim and SC Freiburg tripped each other in the fight for second place in the Bundesliga. The Baden rivals separated goalless at the end of the 7th matchday. With that, SC is in third place, TSG overtook Bayern and ranks right behind Freiburg.
After three previous wins at home, Hoffenheim did not leave home as winners for the first time this season. Freiburg remain unbeaten away from home.
The 24,233 spectators in the Rhein-Neckar-Arena saw strong Freiburgers at the beginning. TSG goalkeeper Oliver Baumann, who started his career in the SC jersey and played his 400th Bundesliga game, was in the spotlight early on.
After almost ten minutes, Hoffenheim, who were missing Ihlas Bebou, Ermin Bicakcic, Benjamin Hübner and Robert Skov, came into play better. Grischa Prömel scored the first real opportunity of the encounter (11th). At the other end, the Japanese Ritsu Doan had the SC lead on his feet (16th) after duping Hoffenheim defender Kevin Akpoguma. With a strong save, Baumann saved his chance of his 100th clean sheet in the league.
Freiburg, who celebrated their second win (3-0) in the second group game of the Europa League at Olympiacos Piraeus on Thursday, then stayed on the trigger. Daniel-Kofi Kyereh aimed just a little too high from the edge of the penalty area (20′). Only seconds later it was Prömel again, who failed at Freiburg goalkeeper Mark Flekken. Basically, the guests, who had to do without Lucas Höler and Roland Sallai, remained the clearly better team.
Michael Gregoritsch (25th), Christian Günter (30th) and Matthias Ginter (38th) did not put the ball in the goal. The goalless draw at the break was more than flattering for TSG.
At the beginning of the second half, Hoffenheim were much more present. Christoph Baumgartner fired the first warning shot (46′). Andrej Kramaric just missed nine minutes later.
The Freiburgers were hardly impressed by the Kraichgauer’s increase in performance. Maximilian Eggestein’s shot went just wide of the target (59′). Gregoritsch placed a header too centrally. (63rd). The SC then pushed for the lead, but to no avail.
