Freiburg 0-3 Hertha Berlin

Hertha Berlin gave their Bundesliga survival hopes a huge lift with a convincing defeat of one of their relegation rivals.

Adrian Gustavo opened the scoring before two goals from Cicero gave Friedhelm Funkel's bottom of the table team a morale-boosting victory - only their third of the season.

In his build-up to the game Funkel had pointed out that Hertha had halved the deficit on16th place in their last five matches, and this win moved them to within two points of the team who occupy that position, Hannover.

Freiburg lie 15th - the final position of safety - but they continue to be hamstrung by their wretched home form and this seventh defeat of the season at the Badenova Stadion means they are now just two points clear of the danger zone.

Hertha had the game's first chance when Florian Kringe crossed but none of the strikers were able to apply the finishing touch as the ball flashed across goal.

The visitors were ahead in the 28th minute after the home side's Cedric Makiadi conceded possession. Rafael capitalised on the mistake and, although goalkeeper Simon Pouplin blocked his effort, Adrian Ramos pounced on the rebound to score with his right foot.

Seven minutes later Hertha were 2-0 ahead, with Ramos again heavily involved.

The Colombian striker found Cicero and the 25-year-old Brazilian kept a cool head, giving Pouplin no chance with a well-struck effort high into the Freiburg net.

Six minutes before the interval the home side had their best chance of the half when captain Ivica Banovic found Stefan Reisinger on the edge of the area but his shot was well saved by Hertha goalkeeper Jaroslav Drobny.

The points appeared safe in the 57th minute when Hertha went 3-0 ahead. Theofanis Gekas' shot broke for Cicero, whose shot from outside the box beat Pouplin.

It was nearly 4-0 on the hour when Cicero's cross was wildly slashed off target by the well-placed Gekas.

However, it did not prove costly as Freiburg created little, with an 83rd-minute header from Omer Toprak which went narrowly wide their only effort of note in the second half.