“It was a deserved victory,” summarised captain Christian Gunter following the game against the lowest-placed team in the league. His coach, however, was a little more reserved in his reaction: “I’m glad that we won, but I wasn’t overly pleased with our performance, but we had a bit of luck on our side and were good in moments, like in the build-up to the penalty.”

Sport-Club began the game having made two changes to the starting line-up that beat Osnabrück in the DFB-Pokal. Setting up in a 4-4-2 formation, Kevin Schade came back into the starting XI in place of Kevin Schlotterbeck and Mark Flekken returned in goal. Philipp Lienhart and Nico Schlotterbeck started for SC in central defence with Günter and Lukas Kübler in the full-back positions. Nicolas Höfler played alongside Maximilan Eggestein in central midfield, Vincenzo Grifo started the game on the left-wing, Schade on the right, and Wooyeong Jeong and Lucas Höler completed the line-up in attack.

Today’s guests travelled with a somewhat depleted squad due to five of their players testing positive for COVID-19, but despite this, they made an excellent start to proceedings. Fürth began strongly and troubled Freiburg early on, trying to fashion some sort of chance, although they weren’t ultimately able to do this. Grifo got the first real chance of the game at the other end of the pitch, but his effort from just outside the box went wide. From then on, the home team began to really control the game. They put up much more of a contest in the challenges, and shortly after had a chance through Jeong, who took the ball well on the turn, but his final effort was too central to trouble the keeper. Fürth’s main objective for the first half was to keep SC as far away from their goal as possible.

An own goal opens the scoring

Instead, Fürth would help the hosts take the lead with an own goal in the 20th minute. Höler’s cross from the right sailed past Jeong and Grifo, as Simon Asta headed past his own keeper to open the scoring. The pace of the game dropped off in the moments that followed, with the majority of play taking place in midfield. SCF controlled the play, however, and remained solid at the back. Höler then came close from a free-kick in the 35th minute, but sent his shot just wide. Freiburg’s next set-piece would then be successful, as Höler headed in a corner from Grifo (39’). Fürth looked toothless for much of the opening half, having recorded no shots on goal.

The visitors started the second half by forcing Flekken into a save with an effort from outside the box, which he easily parried (48’). Freiburg were able to sit back a bit more, bolstered by their two-goal lead, but still allowed very little at the back and continued to look firmly in control.

Fürth didn’t let up, however, and were able to get one back through Leweling in the 74th minute, as he tapped home. Just five minutes later, Höler was brought down in the box, as Grifo restored their two-goal lead from the spot. SCF then nearly added a fourth in the closing minutes through substitute Ermedin Demirovic. “At the moment, everything feels great,” Grifo said after the game.

With the win, Freiburg are in third place with 22 points. Next weekend, they will travel to face reigning champions Bayern München (6/11, 15:30 CET).

Photo: Imago Images