The team were presented to the fans ahead of the final game before the start of the season on 13th August in the DFB-Pokal. The only absentee was the ill Vincenzo Grifo. 23,600 fans were in attendance, including many families who took the opportunity to visit the fan festival, which enabled them to see the team bus, take pictures with mascot Füchsle, take part in competitions and get Nils Petersen’s autograph. SC pressed their Italian opponents early on and registered their first shot after two minutes. Merlin Röhl’s effort from distance flew well over the bar.

Ritsu Doan had a chance in the box two minutes later, but his shot was blocked. Empoli, who finished 14th in Serie A last season, were also looking to get forward and that made it an open affair. Referee Dr. Matthias Jöllenbeck awarded the home team a penalty in the 18th minute for a foul on Lucas Höler. Michael Gregoritsch stepped up, only to see his effort saved by the goalkeeper Elia Caprile, who then impressed again with a good save from a Rolland Sallai a minute later.

SC continued to be the only side creating chances, including in the 22nd minute when Sallai struck one over the bar. Streich’s attackers also did their bit defensively, one example being a fantastic challenge from Doan to block an Empoli shot. Noah Atubolu saved the first shot on his goal after 32 minutes.

Freiburg’s persistent pressing eventually paid off in the 34th minute. Lucas Höler slide tackled the goalkeeper Caprile as he looked to clear a back pass and the ball ended up in the back of the net from Höler’s block. Christian Streich on the touchline was delighted with the goal: “Luci’s goal was a great example of our pressing. It was no coincidence, but simply a reward for our good work.”

Several chances forGregoritsch

SC went into the second half unchanged and continued to push forward in search of goals. Gregoritsch tried his luck with a series of headers at the start of the second period, firstly seeing one saved by the Empoli goalkeeper and then nodding over the bar. A third opportunity shortly later didn’t have enough on it. However, his fourth headed attempt did result in a goal. The Austrian headed past the keeper from Doan’s corner for 2-0 (55’).

SC dominated proceedings and were particularly threatening down the left wing with Sallai having a great game there. Röhl and Gregoritsch had a double chance, but both shots were blocked by a defender. Streich made five changes in the 79th minute, introducing Manuel Gulde, Christian Günter, Nicolas Höfler, Yannik Keitel and Noah Weißhaupt for Eggestein, Kübler, Röhl, Sildillia and Sallai. This was Günter’s first appearance after breaking his arm in the first pre-season friendly against Zürich. His first notable moment was a free-kick he whipped in, flicked on by Lienhart in the box but then cleared (85’) – this was the first opportunity for either side since the 60th minute. The game was played at a lower tempo towards the end, although Atubolu got a chance to shine in injury time with a save from Francesco Caputo.

Streich was pleased with the final friendly a week before the first round  of the DFB-Pokal. “I was really satisfied, we played extremely well for 70 minutes. We didn’t have as many chances after then, but it was a good test.”

Extra 45 minutes end in defeat

The two clubs played another half following the original 90 minutes, reverting the score back to 0-0, just as the coaches agreed beforehand. Freiburg’s team now featured Florian Müller, Keven Schlotterbeck and Kenneth Schmidt alongside Günter, Keitel, Höfler, Weißhaupt and Gulde, while Mika Baur, Ji-han Lee and Maximilian Breunig from the U23s also got some minutes. Several U19s players played for Empoli due to their long injury list.

SC started off the better team, though it took them 22 minutes to create a good chance. Günter’s corner was headed onto the bar by Breunig. Five minutes later, Gulde made it 1-0 from another corner after Empoli couldn’t clear following Schlotterbeck’s header. Iwo Kaczmarski’s individual effort got the Italians back on level terms (30’), leaving goalkeeper Müller with no chance. He made two excellent saves from close range just before the end, but then conceded again from Roberto Piccoli two minutes from time."I wasn’t satisfied with the second game. Even though it was a bit of a makeshift side, we can’t throw away a lead within 45 minutes like that,” summed up Streich.

SC team: Atubolu - Sildillia (79’ Gulde), Lienhart, Ginter, Kübler (79’ Günter) - Doan, Eggestein (79’ Höfler), Röhl (79’ Keitel), Sallai (79’ Weißhaupt) - Gregoritsch, Höler

Photo: Achim Keller