bundesliga

Mats Hummels at the double as Borussia Dortmund fend off Freiburg fightback

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Mats Hummels scored twice as Borussia Dortmund won 4-2 in a topsy turvy match in Freiburg on Matchday 4.

Freiburg 2-4 Dortmund
Goals: 0-1 Hummels 11' (assist: Brandt), 1-1 Höler 45'+2 (assist: Grifo), 2-1 Höfler 45'+6 (assist: Grifo), 2-2 Malen 60' (assist: Füllkrug), 2-3 Hummels (88'), 2-4 Reus (90'+2)
Sent off: Höfler (81')

Following a minute’s silence for Morocco and Libya in the wake of recent tragedies, Dortmund set about improving on their results so far, having won one and drawn two of their league games prior to kick-off. Their early pressure paid off in the 11th minute when Julian Brandt found Hummels unmarked from a corner, allowing the veteran defender to head in unchallenged. Undeterred, Freiburg soon showed a response, Michael Gregoritsch heading wide before Philipp Lienhart smacked the post with shot from the edge of the area. The introduction of Vincenzo Grifo, on for the injured Gregoritsch, proved the catalyst for the turnaround, though: the Italy international provided two precise deliveries for Lucas Höler and Nicolas Höfler in first-half stoppage time to put Freiburg in front.

Grifo had a chance to add his own name to the scoresheet in the second half, but he leaned back when connecting with Ritsu Doan’s pass and ballooned the ball over the bar. Freiburg were made to pay just moments later when Donyell Malen played a quick one-two with Niclas Füllkrug, who had only been on the pitch a matter of seconds, before sprinting through to level the score once again. That set up a nervy final half hour as both teams sought a winner, and Dortmund were grateful to Gregor Kobel for keeping out a rasping Höler drive at his near post. Höfler was sent off in the closing stages for a clumsy tackle on Marcel Sabitzer, and the visitors took full advantage when Hummels bundled in his second of the game from a Marco Reus free-kick, before Reus himself put the seal on the victory in stoppage time. 

Watch: Minute's silence around the Bundesliga for Morocco and Libya

Match stats

  • Doan made his 50th appearance for Freiburg.
  • Maximilian Eggestein led Freiburg out as captain for the first time. 
  • Hummels has now scored at least one goal in each of the last 16 Bundesliga seasons. Only five players have ever previously achieved that feat: Olaf Thon, Michael Zorc, Holger Fach, Bernd Nickel and Willi Neuberger.
  • The defender's double was the third brace of his career, and first since Ocotber 202.
  • Höler's equaliser, his first goal of the season, means three of his last four Bundesliga goals have been headers. 
  • Höfler's goal was his first since November 2021 and was also Freiburg's first from a set-piece this season.

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Teams

Freiburg: Atubolu - Gulde, Ginter, Lienhart, Kübler (Schmidt 85') - Eggestein (c), Höfler - Sallai, Höler (Adamu 77'), Doan (Röhl 85') - Gregoritsch (Grifo 28')
Unused subs: Müller, Weißhaupt, Sildillia, Philipp, Makengo
Out: Günter (broken arm), Keitel (groin), Kyereh (knee)
Coach: Christian Streich  

Dortmund: Kobel - Ryerson, Hummels, Schlotterbeck, Bensebaini (Wolf 46') - Sabitzer, Can (c) (Moukoko 84'), Brandt (Reus 71') - Malen, Haller (Füllkrug 59'), Adeyemi (Nmecha 59')
Unused subs: Meyer, Özcan, Süle, Bynoe-Gittens
Out: Duranville (thigh), Meunier (hamstring), Morey (knee)
Coach: Edin Terzic

Watch: Terzic hails Dortmund's impact subs