There was early drama in Sinsheim, when HSV and Hoffenheim squared off on Saturday. The hosts were awarded a penalty after Jaroslav Drobny took down Sven Schipplock. He was sent off and Eugen Polanski just about squeezed home the penalty. The Polish midfielder added a second late on, while Sebastian Rudy completed the scoring with a well-worked team goal.
Markus Gisdol knew the importance of picking the team up from their 1-3 defeat to FC Schalke 04 last weekend. That left his side five points behind FC Augsburg in the chase for Europe, knowing a winning would be crucial to stay in contention. Sebastian Rudy and Sven Schipplock returned to the starting line-up for HSV's visit, as Steven Zuber and Anthony Modeste were dropped.
The Red Shorts picked up a valuable point at home to Borussia Dortmund on Saturday, in a game that was more suited to the footballing purists. It took its toll on Josef Zinnbauer's side, who were without Johan Djourou (injured) and Nicolai Müller (suspended) for the trip south. Matthias Ostrzolek and Ivo Ilicevic earned starting berths in their place.
The hosts were enjoying the best of any early chances, as former Augsburg defender Ostrzolek was having a torrid time against Kevin Volland and Andreas Beck. However, no-one could tap in the tantalising crosses from either player.
It wasn't long until there was a moment of real drama, as Jaroslav Drobny brought down Schipplock in the box. Günter Perl was given no choice but to show the veteran stopper a red card and away the penalty. René Adler was tasked with keeping out the penalty, but Eugen Polanksi just squeezed the ball past his hand and the post to give Hoffenheim a deserved early lead.
HSV remained positive and tightened up after going down to ten men. They were offering little in attack, but were defensively strong and this was beginning to frustrate key creator Roberto Firmino and his fellow attackers. Volland was brilliantly denied by Adler and that one-on-one save kept his side inthe game as the half-time whistle went.
Hoffenheim continued to turn the screw after the break, but the visitors remained in bullish mood defensively and were doing a fine job of shutting them out. Though Kim-Jin Su's deflected effort drifted just wide of the post and Schipplock headed onto the roof of the net, as the hosts looked to close out the game early on.
Cleber almost spoiled the dominance of the Sinsheim side, but a quite impeccable save from Oliver Baumann denied the Brazilian and kept his team in front. Firmino and Schipplock had further chances to extend their lead and Valon Behrami had a valid penalty appeal turned down, with the action intensifying towards the final whistle.
Polanski wasn't done with his goal-scoring exploits for the day, far from it. The Pole found himself on the edge of the box, following a free-kick that wasn't properly cleared, and he drove home a fantastic finish into the bottom corner to secure the three points for Hoffenheim.
There was still time for one more and Sebastian Rudy finished off a fantastic team goal, after a very unselfish piece of play from Kevin Volland. That brought Hoffenheim just two points from sixth placed Augsburg, ahead of their game in Paderborn next weekend.
HSV and Zinnbauer could drop into the relegation play-off place should Freiburg win on Sunday, though they'll immediately switch their attention Friday's home game with Hertha BSC.