Freiburg and Hamburg share the spoils in dour stalemate

Freiburg 0-0 Hamburg

Both Freiburg and Hamburg went into Friday night's fixture looking to build on impressive wins on Matchday 13, the hosts having secured a hard-fought 2-1 win over Mainz and the visitors coming off the back of their best performance of the season so far - a 3-0 hammering of Hoffenheim. 

But despite much endeavour and commitment from both sides, neither were able to produce sufficient quality in the final third - simultaneously demonstrating why both are in the position they are. 

Not that either team could be faulted for effort and there were attempts to play good football. Freiburg's Christian Günter produced the first moment of quality in the first half when he drove forward with the ball from left-back and exchanged a neat return pass with Nils Petersen, but his shot found the side-netting. 

Minutes later, Filip Kostic cut the ball back dangerously from the Hamburg left but Aaron Hunt's shot was straight at Alexander Schwolow. 

Yoric Ravet had the ball in the net for Freiburg early in the second half but the goal was ruled out for offside - although it seemed that Petersen was the player in an offside position, not the Frenchman. The video assistant did not get involved.

Hamburg happier?

Hamburg have now avoided defeat in consecutive league matches for the first time since the opening two days of the season and coach Markus Gisdol will be happier with a first point on the road since the win at Cologne in August.

But he will also know that Hamburg need to beat their direct relegation rivals if they are to survive again come the end of the season. His fourth-bottom side sit two points above Freiburg, who occupy the relegation playoff spot.

Werder Bremen can move to within a point of Freiburg with a win at home to Stuttgart on Saturday.