Freiburg thrash Werder Bremen 4-0

Freiburg started the new Bundesliga season with a blaze of glory, thrashing visitors Werder Bremen 4-1 in the opening round, thanks to a hat-trick by Japanese forward Yuito Suzuki.

This was Freiburg’s fourth match at the start of the new season, following one in the domestic cup and two in the Conference League qualification playoffs, from which they emerged victorious in all, scoring 16 goals while conceding just three.

Freiburg, who finished seventh last season, reinforced their recent dominance over Bremen by securing their fifth consecutive win against their rivals and their eighth in the last nine meetings.

Suzuki was the undisputed star of the match, scoring his hat-trick in the 29th, 48th, and 55th minutes. Croatian defender Igor Matanović added another goal in the 45th minute, before Werder Bremen, who finished 15th last season, just three points above the relegation zone, reduced the deficit through new signing Polish forward Dariusz Stalmach in the 76th minute.

After three seasons away from the top flight, Schalke began their return to the Bundesliga with an unsuccessful start, losing 3-0 to hosts Augsburg. Goals came from Austrian Michael Gregoritsch (18th minute), Antonio Kade (79th minute), and Portuguese Rodrigo Ribeiro (90+2nd minute). Schalke were hampered by playing with ten men after midfielder Ron Schallenberg was sent off in the 62nd minute.