Bundesliga: Freiburg 3 Hannover 1

Freiburg moved within striking range of Champions League qualification following a 3-1 Bundesliga win at home to Hannover on Friday.

An own goal from Christian Schulz saw the hosts take the lead after 24 minutes following a mix-up in the Hannover defence.

But the visitors struck back just 10 minutes later, Konstantin Rausch finishing with aplomb following Mame Biram Diouf’s pass.

Freiburg managed to reclaim the lead before the half-time break as Max Kruse sent a powerful drive past Ron-Robert Zieler in the Hannover goal.

There were chances at both ends of the ground in a free flowing second half with each side peppering the other’s goal with regular attacks.

But it would be Freiburg who would land the decisive blow when Jonathan Schmid squeezed his shot under Zieler’s body on 72 minutes.

The win, Freiburg’s third in a row, lifts Christian Streich’s men to 45 points and into fifth place on the standings.

They draw level with fourth-place Schalke who occupy the Champions League qualifying spot and host third-place Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday.

Hannover stay ninth following a second defeat in four matches, but could slide to 12th following the round’s remaining fixtures.