Hertha succumb to resilient Freiburg

xwhatsappmailcopy-link

SC Freiburg inflicted a second successive defeat of 2017 on Hertha Berlin at the Schwarzwald-Stadion on Matchday 18.

SC Freiburg 2-1 Hertha Berlin

Goals: 1-0 Haberer (39'), 2-0 Petersen (87'), 2-1 Schieber (88')

How did the game affect your Official Fantasy Bundesliga score? Click here to find out!

Following a risk-averse opening period, the game sprung to life in the 37th minute. Former Freiburg man Vladimir Darida fashioned an opening for Per Ciljan Skjelbred, but the Hertha midfielder was unable to find the target from range. Freiburg responded in kind and got the breakthrough they just about deserved as Vincenzo Grifo showed a great bit of composure to tee up Janik Haberer for his second goal in as many games.

Hertha made a far more purposeful start to the second period, with only a brave challenge from Caglar Söyüncü denying Vedad Ibisevic an effort on the Freiburg goal. Alexander Schwolow saved well from Darida, before Freiburg doubled their tally thanks to a route-one move finished with aplomb by substitute Nils Petersen. Julian Schieber reduced the arrears almost immediately with his third Bundesliga goal from the bench this season, but Freiburg held on.

Download the Official Bundesliga app now!

- © imago / Jan Huebner

Talking point

As was the case last season, the turn of the year has not been kind to Hertha. Can they arrest the two-match losing slide at home to FC Ingolstadt 04 next weekend and get their top-four tilt back on track?

Match stats

    Haberer has scored three goals in his last six Bundesliga starts.Eighteen of Freiburg's 26 points this season have come at home.Petersen is the Bundesliga's second-highest substitute goalscorer (16) of all time behind Alexander Zickler.

Line-ups

Freiburg: Schwolow - Kübler (Ignovski 82'), Torrejon, Söyüncü, Günter - Frantz (c), Höfler - Philipp, Grifo - Haberer (Bulut 80') - Niederlechner (Petersen 74')

Coach: Christian Streich

Hertha: Jarstein - Pekarik, Stark, Brooks, Plattenhardt - Skjelbred (Schieber 82'), Lustenberger - Stocker (Esswein (66'), Darida, Kalou (Haraguchi 66') - Ibisevic (c)

Coach: Pal Dardai

Click here to follow us on Facebook!

Full time already? Take the conversation further on Twitter!