Christian Günter, Matthias Ginter, Ritsu Doan, Wooyeong Jeong and Daniel-Kofi Kyereh were all unavailable for selection on Friday afternoon. The five players have recently returned from the World Cup and will not return to team training until after Christmas.

Despite the torrid conditions, the clash against the 2. Bundesliga’s thirteenth-placed side went ahead thanks to the heating system under the pitch at the Dreisamstadion. The match also took place behind closed doors.

The match consisted of 4 x 30 minute quarters and the head coach used it as an opportunity to showcase some young talent. Kenneth Schmidt and Yannik Engelhardt of the U23s featured for the first hour and 19-year-old defender Andi Hoti got some game time after the halfway mark.

Freiburg definitely looked up for it from the off, but the second division team made themselves known on the pitch, and didn't allow Freiburg to create too many big chances. A header from Michael Gregoritsch found the wrong side of the woodwork, as did a long range strike from Jonathan Schmid. After the restart, proceedings were just as intensive, with both coaches overseeing a game that saw few big chances from either side.

Philipp Lienhart got unlucky as his header struck the crossbar (40’), before it was Gregoritsch who put Freiburg into a deserved lead 10 minutes after the first break (56’). Roland Sallai retrieved possession well, before the Hungary international put in a great cross which Gregoritsch met low and drilled home. Noah Weißhaupt came close to doubling SCF’s advantage, but his effort from close range sailed over.

After the hour mark, both teams returned to the field looking almost completely different. Benjamin Uphoff, a former Karlsruhe man, assumed the gloves for Freiburg, while his opposite number Kai Eisele once played in goal for SCF’s U23s.

“The first game was better, even if it took us a while to get into it,” explained Christian Streich. “However, I was satisfied with the first half, although we could have been more clinical in front of goal.”   

After Karlsruhe almost got level through a dangerous effort from Simone Rapp, Vincenzo Grifo missed the opportunity to double the Freiburg advantage (63’). Ultimately, it was Daniel Gordon who got the visitors level, heading home from a free-kick to end a dangerous spell (73’). “That frustrated me,” admitted Streich, “as we had already conceded from a set piece in our friendly against Lucerne.”

Although Streich was frustrated, the his side responded well and scored two goals in quick succession. Freiburg went 2-1 in front when Nils Petersen found Kevin Schade, who flicked it past the onrushing Eisele and into the back of net (89’). A few moments later, Schade found Lucas Höler with a cross-field pass and the number 9 converted to give his side a 3-1 lead (90’).

The two goals knocked the stuffing out of Karlsruhe and SCF looked to stretch their advantage. Höler found the side-netting (105’), before Grifo came close a few minutes later (112’). Although the hosts continued to press, it was Karlsruhe who scored the final goal of the contest, when Lazar Mirkovic finished from the edge of the penalty area. (114’). The goal, however, came too late in the day for the second division side and the game finished 3-2.

"I wasn't so pleased with our organisation in the second part. It was inconsistent," admitted Streich. Freiburg are next in action on Thursday 22nd December when they are set to face Swiss side Young Boys (14:30 CET). 

Freiburg XI (first 60 minutes): Flekken; Schmid, Gulde, Lienhart, Schmidt; Sallai, Keitel, Eggestein, Weißhaupt; Engelhardt, Gregoritsch

Freiburg XI (second 60 minutes): Uphoff; Sildillia, Hoti, K. Schlotterbeck, Kübler; Schade, Höfler, Wagner, Grifo; Höler, Petersen

Photo: Achim Keller