A Sergej Barbarez hat-trick helped take Hamburg clear of the drop zone as Thomas Doll continued to weave his magic over the club.

Freiburg were the latest victims for Hamburg's new coach as they crashed to a 4-0 defeat after playing more than three-quarters of the game with 10 men.

Emile Mpenza's fifth-minute goal, his second in four days, put the home side in control, before Freiburg defender Boubacar Diarra saw red 12 minutes later for a professional foul on Naohiro Takahara on the edge of the box.

But the night belonged to Barbarez who made the most of his side's numerical advantage in the 29th, 54th and 58th minutes to take Hamburg up to the heady heights of 10th in the Bundesliga.

Barbarez was even instrumental in the opener as he exchanged passes with Mpenza before the Belgian fired past Richard Golz.

The Bosnian may have relied on Bjorn Schlicke's pinpoint cross to nod in his first, but his second was all his own work as he beat Daniel Schumann on the left before cutting inside and unleashing a screamer into the top corner.

His hat-trick goal saw Mpenza return the earlier favour when he set up Barbarez 10 yards out.

It was a sweet moment for the Bosnian, who made no secret of his dislike of former coach Klaus Toppmoller, who was sacked by the club little over a week ago.

Barbarez has flourished under Doll, himself a former Hamburg player, who ended his playing career at the club in 2000 with a 5-0 victory over the same opposition.

It should have been a repeat performance four years on when substitute Bernardo Romeo hit the post from no more than three yards with 12 minutes remaining.

Nevertheless, Doll has transformed the side's fortunes since being promoted from coach of the club's amateur team.

An stunning 2-0 win in front of 78,000 at Borussia Dortmund on Saturday - Hamburg's first away win this season - and victory here, have doubled their points tally in just four days, catapulting them away from the bottom of the Bundesliga.

Freiburg's fall has been just as dramatic.

They may have beaten the league's top two this season, but they have no other wins to their name.

After shipping their 10th goals in the last three away games, they find themselves hovering just above the relegation zone in 15th.

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