You could describe Freiburg’s approach as minimalistic looking at their recent results. Julian Schuster’s side have record three consecutive 1-0 wins over the last weeks, allowing very little at the back and demonstrating a clinical edge down the other end.

However, the work that SC have put in to secure those wins over a Bochum side that are difficult to beat at home, against an always tricky Heidenheim outfit and at St. Pauli’s defensive fortress was anything but minimalistic. Schuster’s men covered 117 kilometres at VfL, while that figure was a whopping 127.8 kilometres against FCH and 124.1 kilometres away to the Kiezkicker.

“We scored a goal in each game, which is positive. Our goal is to defend well and compactly. That gives you every chance of getting a clean sheet, but it’s not our primary focus. We’ve scored a goal more than our opponents in recent games, and we can’t go wrong if we continue doing that,” said Schuster about the recent string of 1-0 victories.

Regardless of how they were earned, the fact is that nine points from three games has solidified Freiburg’s position in the fight for Europe. Now the team want to kick on at home to Werder Bremen. “We need to be incredibly wary going into the game,” warned the SC head coach ahead of the meeting with the Green-Whites: “You can see that they can play great football. They’ve got good options in attack and can play the ball in dangerously. They looked very sharp and aggressive against Mainz.”

As usual, Schuster didn’t reveal his hand on a tactics front. In terms of personnel, Max Rosenfelder is the only player unavailable who isn’t on the long-term injury list, as the centre-back is sidelined with illness. Everyone else has been in team training this week.

The last time Bremen visited the Europa-Park Stadion, SC also won 1-0 – another example of their minimalistic approach coming off. It’s a result you wouldn’t bet against happening again this Friday night.

Photo: SC Freiburg