For the first time since last September, SCF were able to welcome spectators back to watch a game. The first preseason friendly of 2021/22 was played in front of a “sold-out” Dreisamstadion.

The approximately 3000 available tickets had all been snapped up by the day before and the spectators were spread out across the main and east stands, in accordance with the current hygiene regulations. New signs with “Dreisamstadion” written in red were hung around the outside of the stands, after the ground’s temporary name change back to its former identity. 

SCF were still without the three EURO participants: Christian Günter, Philipp Lienhart and Roland Sallai. Wooeyong Jeong was in South Korea’s provisional Olympic team and was not available to play in today’s friendly, despite not being nominated in the final squad. All four of the above will join the team over the course of next week. Nils Petersen was unable to play after picking up an injury at training – he will be unavailable for several weeks.

Defender Kimberly Ezekwem from the club’s own U23s made his first team debut and started SCF’s first friendly of the summer. Forwards Emilio Kehrer and Guillaume Furrer from the second team also played against 1. FC Saarbrücken, who they will face at the Dreisamstadion again at the end of the next 3. Liga season, which is set to begin in two weeks’ time.

The hosts took charge of today’s encounter from the start and could have taken the lead through a first-time Vincenzo Grifo attempt in the fifth minute. Former SCF goalkeeper, Daniel Batz steered the ball over the bar. Four minutes later, the third-tier side took full advantage of their first chance after winning back possession inside the Freiburg penalty area – Adriano Grimaldi converted from close range (9’).  

Despite SCF continuing to dominate for the rest of the half, the equaliser proved to be elusive as Furrer (15’ and 35’), Nico Schlotterbeck (19’) and Grifo (31’) all missed the target from their respective chances.

For the second half, Christian Streich sent a new eleven out onto the pitch, with four more new additions from the academy in Nishan Burkart, Kevin Schade, Kiliann Sidlillia and Noah Weißhaupt making their debuts. Keven Schlotterbeck also joined the game in the second half ahead of his imminent trip to the Olympics in Japan.

Within eight minutes of the restart, two of Freiburg’s half-time additions had found the back of the net to turn the game on its head. Sildillia headed in a Jonathan Schmid corner from a tight angle for the equaliser (47’) before Weißhaupt put his team in front with a low shot just five minutes later (53’). For both, it was a maiden goal for SC Freiburg.

The boys from Saarbrücken kept themselves in the game as best they could and were denied an equaliser on the hour mark by Benjam Uphoff, who kept out Julian Günther-Schmidt’s effort. As the fans continued to chant deep into the closing stages, the SCF players tried to extend their lead. But for a Schmid freekick, however, good chances were few and far between.

SC Freiburg have their second preseason friendly at the end of next week. One day after arriving in Austria, they will take on FC Vaduz from Liechtenstein. The game will be played on FC Schruns’ home turf.