Freiburg made to wait for Conference League spot in defeat at Hamburg
Freiburg are still in control of their own destiny and eyeing an even bigger prize, but they were made to wait for Conference League qualification in a 3-2 defeat at SV Hamburg on Sunday. With one game left in the Bundesliga season, Freiburg sit in the Conference League spot with 44 points, closely followed by Eintracht Frankfurt and Augsburg, both one point behind. But Freiburg are also in the Europa League final.
If they beat Aston Villa on May 20, they will qualify for the Champions League and the Conference League spot will be awarded to another team. Hamburg, who were already safe from relegation, broke the deadlock in the 14th minute. Albert Grønbæk tried to feed Albert Sambi Lokonga with a low cross but the ball went all the way through to Bakery Jatta, who tapped it home.
But Freiburg hit back less than two minutes later. Igor Matanović got to Lukas Kübler's cross in the box and found the net with a clumsy volley. Hamburg retook the lead in the 64th thanks to Luka Vušković's low and powerful free-kick from the edge of the box and Fabio Balde added a third three minutes later.
Matanović completed a late brace 87th but Freiburg weren't able to fight for a comeback. Sunday's other games are Cologne v Heidenheim and Mainz v Union Berlin.