Suzuki sends 'perfect' Freiburg past Bremen, Schalke lose / Photo: THOMAS KIENZLE - AFP
Suzuki sends 'perfect' Freiburg past Bremen, Schalke lose
Japan's Yuito Suzuki scored a sensational hat-trick as Freiburg cruised to a 4-1 home win over Werder Bremen on Sunday, while Schalke lost to Augsburg on their Bundesliga return.
"I feel amazing and I'm very happy to score a hat-trick and to help the team with some goals. I'm just very happy," Suzuki said.
"Today was perfect. We want to continue like that," the 24-year-old added.
Suzuki opened the scoring with a header from a corner before Igor Matanovic added another with a great long-range effort for the Europa League finalists just before the break.
The forward then scored two goals inside seven minutes early in the second-half.
Suzuki was on hand to dink in a Derry Scherhant cross with 48 minutes played and was again in the right spot to turn in a no-look Matanovic pass for a first Bundesliga hat-trick.
Bremen offered little in attack despite returning Germany striker Niclas Fuellkrug starting up front and were only able to pull back a late goal through Dariusz Stalmach with 14 minutes remaining.
In Sunday's late game, seven-time German champions Schalke suffered in their first top-flight match in 1,191 days, going down 3-0 away at Augsburg and finishing with 10 men.
Michael Gregoritsch gave Augsburg the lead after 18 minutes and the visitors hopes of getting back into the match took a hit when Ron Schallenberg saw red for a last-man foul.
Anton Kade added another with 11 minutes remaining and Rodrigo Ribeiro rounded out the victory with a superb stoppage time strike.
Next Saturday, defending champions Bayern Munich travel to Schalke's Veltins Arena home, where the Bavarians have not lost since 2010.
L.Bernasconi--GdR
