SC Freiburg has missed the return to the top of the Bundesliga. It was 0-0 against Borussia Mönchengladbach.
Christian Streich gave his coaching colleague Daniel Farke a friendly hug, then the emotional SC Freiburg coach had to talk to referee Tobias Stieler. But nothing helped. After a zero number against Borussia Mönchengladbach, Freiburg lost their lead in the Bundesliga after just one week to Union Berlin – they were able to cope with it at the end of a tough week.
“It was a good 0-0. It was a good performance. Gladbach also had a few chances. So it’s okay,” said SC striker Michael Gregoritsch on DAZN. The Gladbachers have been waiting for a win at SC for more than 20 years, but at least they haven’t lost in six away games across the seasons. Borussia ranks eighth.
In front of 34,000 spectators in the sold-out Freiburg stadium, things went back and forth right from the start. The Japanese Ritsu Doan (2nd) had the lead just as easily as Florian Neuhaus from Gladbach on the other side (5th).
After almost ten minutes, the hosts, who had won against Azerbaijan’s champions Qarabag Agdam (2-1) at the start of the group stage in the Europa League on Thursday, largely took control. However, Gladbach had the best chance in this phase on a counterattack. Marcus Thuram failed to SC goalkeeper Mark Flekken (14th). On the other hand, newcomer Daniel-Kofi Kyereh, who was in the starting eleven for the first time, did not take advantage of an equally large opportunity (16th).
The Freiburg lead was in the air in the middle of the first half. Streich’s team, who had to do without Lucas Höler and Roland Sallai, increasingly pushed the guests onto the defensive.
The Gladbachers, who were missing the suspended Ko Itakura, Tony Jantschke, Nico Elvedi and Alassane Plea, were able to free themselves after a few minutes. Jonas Hofmann (27th) and Thuram (29th) put the SC goal in danger.
Gladbach: Neuhaus injured and replaced
Neuhaus had to leave the field in the 34th minute with a knee injury, and Nathan Ngoumou came on for him. “It looks like a cruciate ligament injury,” said Farke: “I hope that the fear is not confirmed.”
At the beginning of the second round, both teams watched each other. Neither Gladbach nor Freiburg wanted to make a crucial mistake. Only the violent duels between Borussia and their ex-colleague Matthias Ginter caused a stir.
After an hour, Freiburg seemed tired, but Borussia could not use the weakness. In this phase the game was mainly a battle of attrition. Substitute Wooyeong Jeong only missed another great chance for SC in the 76th minute.
Immediately after the final whistle, Freiburg started preparing for a tough week. On Thursday the SC has to compete in the Europa League at Olympiakos Piraeus, on Sunday the Baden duel at TSG Hoffenheim is on the program.
SC Freiburg – Borussia Mönchengladbach: The voices
Christian Streich (Coach SC Freiburg): “Gladbach was very flexible. We couldn’t defend everything in the first half. In the second half we had a lot of mentality and conviction. We gave everything and really wanted to win.”
Daniel Farke (Borussia Monchengladbach coach): “I couldn’t be happier with the performance. We were totally dominant in the first half. We missed taking the lead. Freiburg came up better in the second half.”
SC Freiburg – Borussia Mönchengladbach: The data for the game
