The game against SpVgg Greuther Fürth was played over two 45-minute and one 30-minute period. Fürth were looking to test themselves ahead of the start of the 2. Bundesliga season next weekend, while SCF wanted to give as many players as possible 60 minutes of match action after an intensive few days in Schruns. Julian Schuster was forced to make a last-minute change to his starting eleven just before kick-off. Florent Muslija had to return to the hotel with muscle problems, so U23 midfielder Yann Sturm came into the team.

SC started on the front foot, and had the ball in the Fürth net after just eight minutes. Junior Adamu’s strike was however ruled out for offside. Three minutes later, Merlin Röhl was denied in a one-on-one by goalkeeper Nahuel Noll. Another three minutes after that, Adamu fired just wide on the turn. SpVgg threatened Noah Atubolu’s goal for the first time after 20 minutes when Noel Futkeul curled home, but the offside flag was up once more.

Following that explosive start, Freiburg fell away somewhat after the first drinks break. SCF struggled to get going again in attack, though Yann Sturm saw a third goal of the game disallowed for offside (36’). However, the opening goal just before half time was still fully deserved. Vincenzo Grifo played the ball to the advancing Adamu on the left of the penalty area, and the latter struck into the far corner for his second goal of pre-season (41’). Just like the previous friendly in Altach however, SC’s lead did not last long. Fürth equalised with the last meaningful action of the first period, as Dennis Srbeny left Atubolu with no chance from close range (45’).

Freiburg were on top again after the break. Patrick Osterhage headed just wide from a Grifo cross (52’). Shortly afterwards, Ritsu Doan and Yann Sturm both tried their luck from around 50 yards out. Doan’s strike was just centimetres wide (54’), while Sturm’s effort missed the target by a bit more (56’). On the hour mark, Grifo was denied by a spectacular save from Noll. Our number 32 curled a trademark effort towards the top corner, but Noll somehow touched it onto the bar. SC then decided to change their eleven completely.

SCF’s second side of the day carried on where the previous team had left off. Their first attack almost saw Fürth head one into their own net (62’). The second saw Lucas Höler’s header go narrowly wide (64’), before Höler was inches away from getting on the end of a ball-in from Weißhaupt (70’). Noll was then called into action again to make a superb stop from Maximilian Philipp (71’). Freiburg let chance after chance go begging, and it remained 1-1 at the end of 90 minutes, even though this did not reflect how the game had gone.

It was SpVgg’s turn to make wholesale changes for the 30 extra minutes, and missed a huge chance to take the lead just a few seconds after the kick-off, when Paffenrot hit the bar from close range. They did not have to wait long though, and they were soon awarded a penalty kick, which Kerim Calhanoglu calmly struck into the corner (100’). Fürth’s lead also did not last long however. Höler’s press forced goalkeeper Moritz Schulze into an error in his own penalty area, and Eren Dinkci just had to slot home (108’). The match therefore finished 2-2 after 120 minutes.

SpVgg Greuther Fürth begin their 2. Bundesliga campaign at home to promoted side Preußen Münster next Sunday. SC meanwhile play another friendly the day before, as they take on RC Strasbourg in Colmar at 15:30 CEST.

SC Freiburg first half: Atubolu – Günter, Schmidt, Rosenfelder, Kübler – Grifo, Osterhage, Röhl, Doan – Sturm, Adamu.

SC Freiburg second half: Müller – Makengo, Gulde, Ogbus, Marino – Weißhaupt, Eggestein, Manzambi, Dinkci – Philipp, Höler.

Goals: 1-0 Adamu (41’), 1-1 Srbeny (45’), 1-2 Calhanoglu (100’ (pen)), 2-2 Dinkci (108’)