BERLIN: Andrej Kramaric’s double helped Hoffenheim to a 3-1 win at Hertha Berlin on Friday (Saturday in Manila) to boost their chances of Champions League football next season. The Croatian’s brace and a goal from Niklas Suele pushed Hoffenheim into provisional third on 48 points, two clear of fourth-placed Borussia Dortmund who face Schalke on Saturday. The top three Bundesliga teams gain direct qualification to the Champions League, with the fourth-placed going into the play-offs. Under his guidance they are now sitting eight points clear of fifth-placed Hertha who opened the scoring with Nino Pekaric in the 32nd minute. Hertha’s Maximilian Mittelstadt was sent off in the 58th minute for a second booking and Hoffenheim exploited their numerical advantage, with Suele and Kramaric’s second completing the win.

Source: Manila Times April 01, 2017 14:48 UTC