Hamburger SV forward Pierre-Michel Lasogga (r.) felt sorry for Freiburg keeper Oliver Baumann (l.), whose errors gifted HSV a 3-0 win on Sunday afternoon
Hamburger SV forward Pierre-Michel Lasogga (r.) felt sorry for Freiburg keeper Oliver Baumann (l.), whose errors gifted HSV a 3-0 win on Sunday afternoon

Lasogga: 'I feel for Baumann'

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Freiburg – Hamburger SV may have maintained their unbeaten record under new coach Bert van Marwijk with a 3-0 victory over Bundesliga strugglers SC Freiburg on Sunday, but the victory at the MAGE Solar Stadion came with a slice of good fortune.

'At the bottom, everything goes against you'

Three errors by die Breisgauer keeper Oliver Baumann were pounced upon by Maximilian Beister, Pierre-Michel Lasogga and Rafael van der Vaart to hand the visitors a comprehensive win which, on the balance of play, may have been a little harsh on their hosts.

Lasogga, scorer of Hamburg’s second goal, sympathised with the Freiburg stopper after the game. “I know Oli Baumann personally and I feel very sorry for him. I had a few games like that when I was in a relegation battle with Hertha – when you’re at the bottom, everything goes against you. That’s what happened to Freiburg today.”

“I know how he feels, I’m also a keeper,” added HSV’s stopper Rene Adler . “I think every keeper has days like this. If you make a mistake during the game, you try and put it to the back of your mind. Sometimes you succeed, sometimes you don’t. If you then happen to concede a second goal where you could have done better, you start to lose focus. We were effective today and made the most of the opportunities presented to us.”

Marwijk working his magic


Despite the fortuitous nature of the goals, Lasogga, whose strike at the MAGE Solar Stadion was his sixth of the season, felt his side fully merited the three points. “We had the better of the chances and the goals came as a result of our hard work. I think we’re doing very well from a tactical point of view at the moment - we’re restricting the opposition to few chances and I think the effect our new coach is having is starting to show.”

Few would disagree with the 21-year-old on that point: The Red Shorts are unbeaten in four games since the Dutchman took over from Thorsten Fink, who left the club following their heavy 6-2 defeat at Borussia Dortmund on Matchday 5. During that spell, they have picked up eight of a possible twelve points and have scored a staggering 13 goals. Though still only 12th in the table, they are only three points off fifth-place Hertha Berlin.

'Progress'


Van Marwijk himself, though pleased with his side's victory, feels there is still room for improvement. “Our organisation was good - we barely let them have a touch of the ball. However, we were making too many mistakes in possession and our final ball didn’t always find its target. Overall, it was another step in our development, that’s why we can return home satisfied and turn our attention to our next game.”

That next game is at home to Borussia Mönchengladbach. The Foals, while boasting a 100 per cent home record at Borussia Park, have been far less impressive on the road this season, something van Marwijk will be keen to take full advantage of: A win would take HSV to within a point of fourth-place Gladbach and Hamburg’s position in the league will look much healthier than it did before the Dutchman's arrival.


Oliver Baumann will be hoping to make up for his Matchday 10 performance by producing outstanding stops like these over the coming weeks - check out the top five saves of this weekend, courtesy of the official Bundesliga YouTube channel: