"We were lacking concentration and the ruthlessness to create chances," admitted a frustrated BVB coach Edin Terzic at full time, while SC head coach Christian Streich was in a much better mood following his first ever win against the Ruhr valley club. "We scored two goals just like that in the second half and then gave all we could. It was difficult at the end, but we had the rub of the green and won the game."

Streich surprised many with an unexpected tactical change. Instead of the 3-4-3 typical of recent matches, SC lined up in a classic 4-4-2 formation used most recently in the 2-2 draw against Eintracht Frankfurt. Lucas Höler returned to the starting XI in place of Manuel Gulde – the only change compared to the defeat at Vfl Wolfsburg. Höler, who was making his 100th competitive appearance for the club, began on the right wing, while Wooyeong Jeong partnered Ermedin Demirovic in attack.

Danger at both ends

The first chance of the half belonged to the visitors, Emre Can shattering the crossbar with a strike from 20 yards (4'). At the other end, SC’s high attacking line forced defensive mistakes from Dortmund and Wooyeong Jeong pounced with a powerful strike from the edge of the box, parried away awkwardly by Marvin Hitz before Mats Hummels cleared the rebound ahead of the pouncing Demirovic (10').

Nicolas Höler missed a golden chance to open the scoring in front of an open goal (12'), while Florian Müller pulled off a reflex save before Erling Haaland could pounce on goal (13').

Streich’s side looked more than comfortable, despite a historically poor record against BVB, in the 700th match in the club’s history. One minute, attacking with a high press, the next dropping to deep and keeping things tight in the middle. But after a mad opening 15 minutes, both sides adjusted well and allowed their opponents few chances of note in the final third.

With two minutes left in the first half, the golden opportunity to take the lead almost fell to Demirovic in the six-yard box, but for an inch or two on Schmid’s cross from the right. All things considered, 0-0 was a fair scoreline for both sides going into the break.

Freiburg go for the kill early on

Sport-Club came out full of attacking intent in the second half and were duly rewarded. Firstly, when Vincenzo Grifo’s played the ball square on the edge of the box to Jeong, who curled the ball spectacularly past Marwin Hitz with a curling left-footed finish (49’). A second followed just three minutes later when Schmid struck from the right-side corner of the box, catching Hitz off guard at the near post (52').

Despite being two goals in front, Streich’s side continued to play attacking forward to keep Dortmund away from their goal. The tactic paid off initially, but the introduction of Youssoufa Moukoko ensured a nervy closing stages when the 16-year-old pulled one back for the visitors with a close-range effort (76').

With renewed hope of rescuing something from the game, Dortmund attacked the SCF defence with ferocious intensity in the final quarter of an hour, albeit without creating many clear-cut chances. Streich’s men held firm to keep all three points in the Black Forest and take their tally to 30 points for the season. It was the first victory against BVB since May 2010.

Currently eighth in the table, SC Freiburg travel north to face SV Werder Bremen next Saturday 15:30 CET. 

Photos: Achim Keller