Kramaric double helps Hoffenheim up to 3rd

Berlin - Andrej Kramaric's double helped Hoffenheim to a 3-1 win at Hertha Berlin on Friday to boost its chances of Champions League football next season.

The Croatian's brace and a goal from Niklas Sule pushed Hoffenheim provisionally into third on 48 points, two clear of fourth-placed Borussia Dortmund, which faces Schalke on Saturday.

The top three Bundesliga teams gain direct qualification to the Champions League, with the fourth-placed outfit going into the play-offs.

Hoffenheim is coached by Julian Nagelsmann, at 29 the youngest head coach in Bundesliga history who last week was named Germany's manager of 2016.

Under his guidance, the club is now sitting eight points clear of fifth-placed Hertha, which opened the scoring with Nino Pekaric in the 32nd minute.

But Kamaric soon put Hoffenheim back level from the penalty spot.

Hertha's Maximilian Mittelstadt was sent off in the 58th minute for a second booking and Hoffenheim exploited its numerical advantage, with Sule and Kramaric's second completing the win.

Dortmund will be seeking to reclaim third spot in Saturday's 150th Ruhr Valley derby at Schalke.

Leader Bayern Munich is at home to Augsburg, with Carlo Ancelotti's side missing defender Javi Martinez through suspension.

Second-placed RB Leipzig hosts bottom side Darmstadt.