Saturday, January 8, 2022 at 5:28 PM• Mart Oude Nijeweeme • Last update: 17:43

SC Freiburg lost expensive points in the Bundesliga on Saturday afternoon. The team of trainer Christian Streich, which had to do without the positively tested Mark Flek, did not go further than 2-2 against Arminia Bielefeld at home. Reserve goalkeeper Benjamin Uphoff made a flashy mistake on the second goal and unfortunately worked the ball over his own goal line. Freiburg loses third place due to the division of points to TSG Hoffenheim, which won 3-1 against FC Augsburg.

SC Freiburg – Arminia Bielefeld 2-2
When visiting Arminia Bielefeld, there seemed to be nothing in the air for Freiburg. The number three in the Bundesliga, which took office without the positive tested Fleks, took the lead after six minutes via Janik Haberer. The score was doubled after halftime by Jeong Woo-yeong. Bielefeld then straightened and returned to the game after an hour of play, when Masaya Okugawa knocked goalkeeper Uphoff with an apparently tenable shot. To make matters worse, the reserve goalie had to fish again in the absolute final phase, when he unluckily worked a cross from Bryan Lasme over his own goal line. It was the first time this season that Flek was not between the posts in the revelation of the Bundesliga.

RB Leipzig – 1. FC Mainz 05 4-1
Leipzig had no trouble at all with Mainz at home and looked at a 1-0 lead at halftime due to a striking penalty from André Silva. Moreover, Alexander Hack was sent off with a red card at the moment after a handball on the goal line. After the break, the red carpet was laid out. Barely started in the second company, Dominik Szoboszlai doubled the score on behalf of the home team. The midfielder found the top left corner with the outside of the right foot on a pass from Christopher Nkunku.

Mainz did return something after an hour of play via Jae-sung Lee (shot through the bottom of the bar), but had to watch as Domenico Tedesco’s team closed the game a minute later. This time Nkunku was set free in front of goalkeeper Robin Zentner by Szoboszlai, after which the attacker rounded off nicely with a diagonal marker. The final chord came two minutes later from Silva’s foot, who signed for his second of the afternoon. The striker took full advantage of a good individual action from Nkunku and placed the leather in the top right corner.

Bayer Leverkusen – 1. FC Union Berlin 2-2
Bayer Leverkusen is not experiencing the best period of the season and has been without a win in the last four official games. The team of coach Gerardo Seoane also failed to make a fist against Union Berlin. Patrik Schick gave the home team the lead after more than half an hour of play from a rebound, but saw how the visitors then took over. Grischa Prömel lifted the score even before half time from a corner, after which the same Prömel gave Union the lead five minutes after the break. This time the midfielder was in the right place after a failed shot by Max Kruse. Jonathan Tah gave Leverkusen a point five minutes before the end with a close header: 2-2.

Greuther Furth – VfB Stuttgart 0-0
Both teams failed to create opportunities in the opening phase. Halfway through the first half, the home team, where Nick Viergever started in the starting line-up and Jetro Willems on the bench, did get the perfect opportunity to open the score. Branimir Hrgota’s header, however, was cleverly saved by goalkeeper Florian Müller. The duel between Greuther Furth and VfB Stuttgart was a real relegation cracker. The battle was largely fought in midfield. The trainers Stefan Leitl and Pellegrino Matarazzo had to make do after ninety minutes with a division of points, which they both don’t really get along with.

TSG Hoffenheim – FC Augsburg 3-1
A dream start for the home team seemed in the making, but a goal by Munas Dabbur within the minute was rejected after intervention by the VAR due to hands. On the other hand, it was then a hit for Augsburg, when Michael Gregoritsch was allowed to head in a corner kick uncovered: 0-1. Hoffenheim, however, put things in order through Ihlas Bebou before the break. First the attacker appreciated a measured cross from David Raum and just before the end of the first half all he had to do was put his foot against the ball after a tight pass from Kevin Akpoguma: 2-1. In the stoppage time of the second half, the game was closed by Raum: 3-1.