Despite conceding after just two minutes, the first Bundesliga game under new head coach Julian Schuster turned into a perfect day for the majority of the 34,700 spectators at a sold-out Europa-Park Stadion.

The visitors were awarded the first corner of the game after just 42 seconds. Former Freiburg man Pascal Stenzel’s ball-in landed at the feet of Enzo Millot, who couldn’t quite find the net, but another former SC player was there for the follow-up. Ermedin Demirović executed a scissor kick which beat Florian Müller in the SC goal. “We didn’t start well. That wasn’t what we’d planned,” said Julian Schuster after the game.

The Freiburg coaching staff made two changes from the 4-0 DFB-Pokal first-round win over VfL Osnabrück. Lukas Kübler came in for Bruno Ogbus at right-back and Merlin Röhl replaced Lucas Höler in the number 10 position. Michael Gregoritsch missed out with a thigh strain.

It took ten minutes for SCF to threaten VfB’s goal for the first time. Alexander Nübel snatched Merlin Röhl’s low cross away from the feet of Junior Adamu. SC recovered well from the early blow to create more and more goalscoring chances. Patrick Osterhage’s powerful effort from distance was blocked in the 17th minute, while Vincenzo Grifo flashed a dangerous free kick into Stuttgart’s six-yard box a few minutes later.

Kübler strikes with power and precision

“I had hoped that we wouldn’t face this stern of a test on the first matchday,” said Julian Schuster at the press conference before the game after Stuttgart’s impressive performance against Bayer Leverkusen in the DFL-Supercup. VfB showcased their confidence on the ball at the start of the game, but the injury-hit side had some nervy moments defensively.

SCF improved, particularly after a drinks break around the 20-minute mark. According to Christian Günter, the coaching staff made some “minor tactical tweaks” during this short interruption, and these paid dividends straight away. On 26 minutes, Junior Adamu found himself in space around 23 yards from goal and played it to Lukas Kübler, and the right-back hammered the ball into the far corner.

Seven minutes later, Stuttgart were grateful that the score was still 1-1. First, Vincenzo Grifo failed to convert three times from promising positions (28’, 30’, 32’), before Röhl was denied by Nübel. It remained level at the break.

Günter celebrates milestone with vital assist

Neither side made any personnel changes at half time. SC remained the dominant team at the start of the second period. In the 54th minute, captain Christian Günter, who celebrated his milestone of 400 games in Freiburg colours before the game, was superbly found by Vincenzo Grifo, and crossed towards Ritsu Doan in the centre. The Japan international showed great determination to eventually bundle the ball over the line after several attempts and put his side 2-1 up.

Unlike after the first goal, SCF were able to add another in quick succession against a now-rocking VfB. In the 61st minute, Osterhage’s deflected effort led to a Freiburg corner, and Grifo’s superb ball-in was headed home by Kübler for his second of the match.

Sallai close to wrapping the game up

Stuttgart then made four substitutions, while SC brought on, among others, Matthias Ginter and Roland Sallai for Maximilian Eggestein and Ritsu Doan. Just two minutes after coming on, Sallai had a chance to wrap the game up, but curled wide by a whisker from around 14 yards out.

“We’re obviously really pleased with this derby win over a very good team,” said SCF boss Schuster after the game. His team also managed to hold strong in the final phases of the game. VfB’s best chance of the last few minutes saw Matthias Ginter deny Justin Diehl with a last-ditch sliding tackle (87’). A minute later, Anrie Chase’s effort from distance went just about the right side of the post from an SC perspective. At the other end, Jeff Chabot cleared a square pass from Roland Sallai to prevent his team falling to an even heavier defeat (88’).

Freiburg will next travel to FC Bayern next Sunday (17:30 CEST) ahead of the first international break of the new season.

Photo: Achim Keller