Yuito Suzuki hit a hat-trick to help Freiburg overrun Werder Bremen 4-1 at home on Sunday, beginning the Bundesliga campaign as they mean to go on in their quest for an elusive Champions League spot.
Japan's Suzuki headed in a Niklas Beste corner on the half hour and Croatia forward Igor Matanović blasted in from outside the area just before the interval.
It was quickly 3-0 after the break when playmaker Suzuki converted Derry Scherhant's cross. He also tapped in Matanović's pass soon afterwards and a later header from Dariusz Stalmach for Bremen meant little.
Augsburg host promoted Schalke in Sunday's late game, where new Germany coach Jürgen Klopp is expected to attend.
Bayern Munich kicked off the new Bundesliga season on Friday with a 5-1 home thrashing of VfB Stuttgart and Borussia Dortmund beat SV Hamburg 2-0 in Saturday's main programme of matches.
Bremen, who sold goalkeeper Mio Backhaus to Freiburg in the close season, were dealt another blow before kick-off with news that talisman Jens Stage was out for the rest of the year with a hamstring injury.
The 2004 champions are seen as relegation candidates by many pundits and Daniel Thioune's limited squad was exposed by the home side.
Niclas Füllkrug started on his second Bundesliga debut for former team Bremen, but the on-loan West Ham forward was largely anonymous - wasting one good chance in the second half.
Freiburg, who have been knocking on the door of the Champions League for years, have fourth spot as their clear aim this term alongside winning the Conference League.
Julian Schuster's side have lost keeper Noah Atubolu to Eintracht Frankfurt and playmaker Johan Manzambi to Aston Villa, but last term's Europa League runners-up remain a dynamic side - especially at home.
The result against Bremen was never in doubt and the Black Forest outfit should have scored even more.
Suzuki will need to have a good season if Freiburg are going to cope without Switzerland star Manzambi. On this showing, the 24-year-old looks in fine fettle for his second Bundesliga campaign.
Backhaus again looked nervous though and his attempt to stop Stalmach's close-range header was weak. The new Freiburg keeper also made a major error in the Conference League play-off win over Motherwell in midweek.
Bremen host RB Leipzig next Saturday when Freiburg go to promoted Paderborn.
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