Hoffenheim maturing

Hoffenheim's thrilling 3-3 draw against Freiburg was the new season's first reminder of just how entertaining Markus Gisdol's team is. Last season, a remarkable 142 goals were scored in Hoffenheim games. Against Freiburg on Tuesday, a match that included a red card, a penalty and an injury-time equalizer, there were no signs of an interval in the club's entertainment.

In the context of this season though, this game was an anomaly. Gisdol's team is finally beginning to play like a side determined to swap their entertainment label for a European one.

Hoffenheim are currently second in the table with nine points. They are undefeated, have scored nine and conceded five - the same as Mainz and not nearly as radical as Leverkusen (scored 10, conceded nine). This is in stark contrast to last season where, after the first five games, Hoffenheim had eight points, suffered only one defeat, and had scored 14 and conceded 13.

Change afoot under Gisdol

Things are evidently changing under Markus Gisdol. Composed wins against Augsburg and Stuttgart have also been accompanied by draws against Bremen and Wolfsburg. The draw against Robin Dutt's Bremen might appear to be the more disappointing of the two results, but in truth Gisdol's men were only one minute away from sealing victory against Wolfsburg. The recurring theme is the distinct lack of the word defeat. In all of their games so far this season, they've shown determination while retaining that cool composure in front of goal, and as a result, rightfully sit in second.

The arrival of goalkeeper Oliver Baumann and defender Ermin Bicakcic have strengthened their defensive ranks, but it's also the team itself that is maturing under Gisdol. Three defensive midfielders were deployed against Freiburg - a sign that Gisdol finally feels he has enough pieces in place to depart from the all-out attacking nature of the past and win games by controlling them. The counterattacking ruthlessness remains, but the maturity to dictate the tempo is growing.

Tarik Elyounoussi, who scored just before the break to give Hoffenheim a way back into the game against Freiburg, looks like a player revitalized by the club's evolution. A bit-part player last year, Elyounoussi has been key at the start of this season, scoring three in five appearances. In light of a potential departure to prized-asset Kevin Volland, Elyounoussi's development is all the more important for the club.

Process has begun, but not finished

Hoffenheim still have a way to go though. Two minutes of defensive lapse cost them two goals against Freiburg and forced them to return to all-out attack in an attempt to save the game. Fittingly, they did so, but Gisdol, a man whose work with the club remains understated, has them working towards a different method of winning games.

Having already faced a few sides suffering from form crises this season, staying undefeated against Mainz, also unbeaten, and a resurgent Schalke (their next two opponents) will reveal how far Gisdol's evolution can go this season.

While the Bundesliga may be a little poorer for Hoffenheim's path away from spectacular games, their own fans, and above all their own players, will be keen to shed the entertainer's tag and be taken more seriously. Mind you, their draw against Freiburg proves they're not quite finished with remarkable scorelines just yet.