Match Report

Hamburg take point from hard-fought draw in Freiburg

Hamburg and Freiburg share the points in an even contest in south Germany on matchday 14. Freiburg had a goal ruled off for offside, while Hunt had HSV’s best chance in a game where the defenders came out on top. Walace and Hahn both made their return from injury, coming on as substitutes.

Hamburg are now unbeaten in two games, taking a point from a tough battle in Freiburg. In a game of few clear-cut chances, Ravet had a goal disallowed for offside in the second half. Meanwhile, Hunt had Hamburg’s stand-out opportunity, shooting straight at the goalkeeper after tricky wing work by Kostic, who was making his 100th Bundesliga appearance. Freiburg carried the momentum into the last stages of the game, but a draw was ultimately a fair result.

Filip Kostic and Aaron Hunt both had chances to break the deadlock

Hunt with Hamburg’s best chance

The Rothosen went into the away game against Freiburg with a team unchanged from last weekend’s victory against Hoffenheim, playing with Bobby Wood just behind Fiete Arp, who played as a lone striker. With just one place separating them, this was always going to be a cagey duel and it was clear from minute one that both teams were ready for a tough battle. Neither side gave anything away at the back, looking to break on the counter. Though the two sides worked their way into good positions in the final third, the defences had the upper hand, restricting the strikers to shots from distance.

The best chance of the half came to Aaron Hunt. Filip Kostic, making his 100th Bundesliga appearance, lost his defender down the left wing and played in Hunt with a low cross, but our number 14 could only direct his shot at Schwolow. Arp too, later in the half, carved out a chance from nothing, latching onto to a weak back pass to find himself with an empty goal, albeit at a very tight angle. The 17-year old didn’t have any teammates up with him and hit a curling shot just wide of the far post. At the other end, Mathenia was called into action a couple of times, most notably to tip a long-ranger Petersen effort over the bar.

Ravet puts the ball in the goal, but it’s ruled off for offside

Both teams strong defensively

Freiburg started the second half on the front foot, but again failing to trouble the Hamburg goal except from outside the box. The hosts had the ball in the next just after the hour mark though it was ruled out for offside. Ravet latched on to a loose ball in the box, but it was instantly disallowed, the linesman raising his flag before the Freiburg number 16 had even taken his shot. HSV continued to look strong in defence as the hosts piled on the pressure, Papadopoulos putting in another resilient performance that Hamburg fans are now so used to.

Markus Gisdol will also take positives from the returns of Walace and Andre Hahn, replacing Aaron Hunt and Bobby Wood respectively. Both players made their first start since being out with injuries. Sven Schipplock was the final player to come on for Hamburg. He replaced Arp with one minute of normal time to go. Though Freiburg may have ended the game on the front foot, Markus Gisdol and his men will take courage from the no-nonsense defensive display which led to the clean-sheet and a result which keeps the hosts one rank behind the Rothosen in the relegation play-off place.

MATCH FACTS:

SC Freiburg: Schwolow - Koch, Schuster, Söyüncü - Stenzel, Günter - Höfler - Haberer - Ravet (79’ Kleinstdienst), Terrazzino (70’ Kath) - Petersen

Hamburger SV: Mathenia - Diekmeier, Papadopoulos, Mavraj, Douglas Santos - Jung, Sakai - Hunt (70’ Walace), Wood (87’ Hahn), Kostic - Arp (90’+2 Schipplock)

Goals: -

Attendance: 24,000

Referee: Benjamin Brand

Yellow cards: Stenzel (33’), Höfler (73’) / Diekmeier (56’), Wood (62’), Jung (84’)