Max Kruse and Jonathan Schmid secured Freiburg the 12th win of the season to set course for European competitions, at the opener of the 29th round of Bundesliga on Friday.

The victory increase Freiburg's chances of a Champions League playoff spot as they remain on 5th place to set 4th positioned Schalke under pressure. Hannover is out of the running for a European spot as they suffered their 12th loss of the season to remain on 9th position.

Freiburg staged a better start, as the visitors from Hannover needed some time to gain a foothold into the match.

With 25 minutes into the match the hosts broke the deadlock thanks to the own goal by Hannover defender Christian Schulz, who deflected a long cross into his own goal after his goalkeeper Ron Robert Zieler underestimated the cross by Jonathan Schmid.

Hannover responded eleven minutes later when Hannover's Konstantin Rausch made use of Mame Biram Dioufs interception to chip the ball into the open goal.

Freiburg remained unfazed and grabbed the lead again before the break as Max Kruse had all time and space to slot home into the bottom right from outside of the box just before the break.

With beginning of the second half the hosts continued their offensively minded strategy but Hannover keeper Zieler denied Freiburg's Schmid twice to extend the lead.

At the 69th minute Hannover had the golden chance to level the score but Diouf wasted the opportunity with a weak shot into the arms of Freiburg's keeper Oliver Baumann.

Freiburg's Schmid staged a better figure in front of the visitors goal when he made it 3-1 on the scoreboards at the 73rd minute to seal the deal and the 12th win of the season.

The following fixtures are scheduled for Saturday: Bayern Munich host Nuremberg at the Bavarian derby, Wolfsburg face Hoffenheim, Mainz see Hamburg, bottom side Greuther Fuerth encounter Dortmund, newly promoted Dusseldorf meet Bremen and Schalke clash with Leverkusen.