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The National Times - Suzuki sends 'perfect' Freiburg past Bremen, Schalke lose

Suzuki sends 'perfect' Freiburg past Bremen, Schalke lose

SPORTS 30.08.2026
Suzuki sends 'perfect' Freiburg past Bremen, Schalke lose
Suzuki sends 'perfect' Freiburg past Bremen, Schalke lose / Photo: © AFP

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.

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"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.

R.T.Gilbert--TNT

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