After last weekend’s defeats in the league, both sides were looking for a different result tonight. While SCF had lost 5-1 in Dortmund, Hoffenheim were out to erase memories of their 2-1 loss at Union Berlin. Ahead of the game, SC head coach Christian Streich said “I’m optimistic that we will deliver a different performance to that against Dortmund.” The team did just that, as they dominated possession, were aggressive and got stuck into the tackles. Streich also praised his side, saying “The team showed a very, very good reaction to the game in Dortmund.”

After recovering from Covid-19, Mark Flekken and Nico Schlotterbeck both returned to the starting lineup, with Kevin Schade, Ermedin Demirovic and Maximilian Eggestein also returning to the XI. The first chance of the game came through Schade, as he played in a cross from the right flank. The first goal would fall to SCF in the 10th minute, as Lucas Höler found Vincenzo Grifo, who had the space to curl a shot past Oliver Baumann to open the scoring.

Grifo converts from the spot

After going behind early on, TSG then began to find their way into the opposing half more often. Georginio Rütter sent in two corners as well as having a shot on goal as the hosts looked to overload the left wing. Höler then had a golden chance to make it 2-0, but was judged to be offside prior to receiving the ball. Hoffenheim struggled to pose a threat on the SCF goal, but continued to edge into the box with various set pieces.

SCF were then awarded a penalty after a handball inside the box from Ihlas Bebou.  Grifo stepped up to take it, coolly slotting it past Baumann for his second of the night (36’). The visitors were also solid at the back, as Philipp Lienhart delivered a well-timed tackle on Dennis Geiger. Shortly before the break, Nicolas Höfler sent a shot over the bar, before Grifo had an attempt saved by Baumann.

Two quick goals on either end

At the start of the second half, Rütter sent a header just over the SCF goal, before a long-range shot sailed wide of the target. TSG’s third attempt would find the back of the net, however, as Schlotterbeck turned in Andrej Kramaric’s cross (52’). Minutes later, Schade restored his side’s two-goal advantage (57’). VAR took a long look at the goal with Schade suspected of being offside before finally awarding the goal. After the game, Streich commented “We switched over well and had some things go our way, like the third goal.”

Hoffenheim continued to press, as Lienhart was forced to make a goalline clearance with Flekken keeping out the rebound. Whenever SCF found the space to counter, they looked to take advantage. Lukas Kübler stormed down the wing, before finding Höler who laid it off to Demirovic for SCF’s fourth of the night (68’). In the closing stages, Lienhart could have even made it five, but narrowly missed the target. Freiburg advanced to the quarterfinals of the competition with a 4-1 win, with Streich pleased with what he saw: “It was a really good game from us and we are happy to have moved on to the quarterfinals.”

Photo: Achim Keller