It was a beautiful autumn day in the Europa-Park Stadion in Freiburg, last season’s runners-up were the visitors for the ground’s Bundesliga premiere, and 20,000 buoyant fans were in attendance for the landmark occasion – the atmosphere couldn’t have been better for SCF’s first competitive game in their new home. Head coach Christian Streich made one change to the side that started in Berlin, with Kiliann Sildillia coming for Lukas Kübler on the right-hand side. Mark Flekken continued in goal behind a back-three of Nico Schlotterbeck, Manuel Gulde and Philipp Lienhart. Sildillia was joined in midfield by Nicolas Höfler, Maximilian Eggestein and captain Christian Günter, while Vincenzo Grifo, Lucas Höler and Wooyeong Jeong lead the line.

The game started at a furious pace with both teams looking to attack the opposition goal. RB Leipzig registered the first shot of the match through Emil Forsberg in the second minute, and the Swede would have been in a dangerous position again a short while later if not for Lienhart’s last-ditch intervention (9’). At the other end, Jeong had a golden chance to open the scoring after Günter picked him out in the six-yard box, only for the South Korean to fire inches wide of the begging goal (12’). Freiburg then had a lucky escape as Forsberg wasted a similar opportunity. It was an exciting back and forth in the opening stages, with RBL slightly on top.

Penalty for Leipzig, yellows for the coaches

The match became a little more rugged as the first half progress and Leipzig began to force Freiburg’s defence deeper. Chances from open play dried up and it was a penalty that finally broke the deadlock in the 32nd minute, as Forsberg coolly converted from the spot. There was controversy over the decision as it wasn’t entirely clear if the foul was inside out outside the area, but VAR didn’t overrule referee Daniel Siebert’s decision.

Both Jesse Marsch and Christian Streich were booked in quick succession for arguing with the referee – Streich for his disagreement about the penalty, Marsch about a tackle. In the closing minutes of the first half SC created another chance: Höler volleyed from the corner of the box, but the ball crashed off the post (45’). The following corner could only be headed over by Nico Schlotterbeck.

Freiburg seek a goal

Streich made a tactical change at half time, with Roland Sallai replacing Manuel Gulde, SC changing to a back four. The home side put the pressure on and created the first chance through Höfler, who headed over from a corner. Grifo then came close with a free kick, but that effort also flew over the Leipzig net (52’), and Jeong also sent a shot from the corner of the box wide at the hour mark.

Four minutes later, the equaliser finally came in front of the new Südkurve. Grifo found Jeong with a fine cross from the left, and the South Korean found the net to make it 1-1. Defensively, SC were solid, Leipzig not challenging Flekken’s goal often. Instead, it was Streich’s side who almost turned the game on its head in the closing stages. Höler and Höfler both went close with a header and shot respectively, but the strong Gulacsi was equal to them in the Leipzig goal. “We could have won the game at the end,” said Lienhart afterwards, “But it is what it is.” Both Streich and his opposite number Marsch agreed with Lienhart’s assessment: “It was difficult for us in the first half, but after the break the team played a brilliant game,” said Streich. Leipzig’s coach also saw a draw as the right result: “In the first half we were strong, but Freiburg reacted well and we needed to defend more.”

Photo: Patrick Seeger

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