Exactly 78 days separate SC’s final game of last season and the opening competitive fixture of the new campaign. The players and coaching staff used the time off initially to recover, before working hard again to be in top shape during pre-season.

Freiburg haven’t lost any key players during the summer, while six members of the U23s have moved up to the first team. “Everybody knows each other and we’ve got great chemistry. We’re all looking forward to the start of the season,” said Lucas Höler before the DFB-Pokal game at Würzburger Kickers.

After friendlies against Saarbrücken (2-1), Vaduz (1-1) and Leverkusen (0-0), SC played a double header against Racing Strasbourg to conclude pre-season. Both sides recorded a 2-1 win each, as all players got the chance to impress ahead of Sunday. “My first impression has been positive,” commented Christian Streich after almost five weeks of training. “We’re not sure where we’re currently at – but that’s the case every year. It’s important that all the players got 75 or 90 minutes last weekend against Strasbourg.”

While this is Freiburg’s first competitive game of the new season, Würzburg have already played twice in the 3. Liga, losing 1-0 in both games away to 1860 München and at home to SC Verl.

Nevertheless, Streich is expecting a close game this Sunday: “We’ve prepared for this game just as we would for any normal Bundesliga match. Games against third-tier sides are always really close. I’m looking forward to playing in Würzburg, however we’re aware of how difficult this will be.”

Around 500 SC fans will make the trip to Würzburg for Sunday’s game at the Dallenberg. Keven Schlotterbeck, who missed large parts of pre-season due to taking part in the Olympics in Japan, is unlikely to feature, just like Nils Petersen, with the striker completing rehabilitation training after his injury. Lukas Kübler is also a doubt due to muscular problems.

Photo: SC Freiburg