SC Freiburg has set another highlight on the way to Europe and, thanks to its offensive power, can dream more than ever of participating in the Champions League for the first time. The people of Breisgau won 4-0 (2-0) against their favorite opponent Schalke 04 on the 29th Bundesliga matchday.
Austrian striker Michael Gregoritsch (7th/35th), Lucas Höler (52nd) and Matthias Ginter (82nd) scored for Freiburg, who have won against no other league rival as often as against Schalke (16 times).
There was “good mood, very good mood. It was extremely important. We wanted to submit, that’s clear,” said Gregoritsch on DAZN: “Thank God we did a great job, the win was very, very deserved. It is It’s not a matter of course for us to design and win games like this.”
For Schalke’s Danny Latza it was a deserved defeat: “We were never really in the game. Freiburg could have scored a lot more goals.”
A weakened guest team played in front of 34,700 spectators in the sold-out Freiburg stadium, including former national coaches Jürgen Klinsmann and Joachim Löw. The injured goalkeeper Ralf Fährmann was replaced by the former Freiburg Alexander Schwolow. Cedric Brunner, Tim Skarke, Eder Balanta, Maya Yoshida and the suspended Tom Krauss were also absent.
“We don’t have that much pressure,” said SC trainer Christian Streich shortly before kick-off at DAZN: “Now it’s time to look ahead and put power in.” His protégés adhered to the requirement. The Schalke defense was literally taken apart by the Freiburgers in the first few minutes.
At first, Gregoritsch and Ritsu Doan couldn’t get past Schwolow (6th) when they had a double chance, a few seconds later Gregoritsch didn’t let Doan ask him to do it again. Vincenzo Grifo hit the post in the 13th minute. The game could have been decided after a quarter of an hour.
SC Freiburg could have won higher
Only after 20 minutes did Breisgau, who had to do without the suspended Maximilian Eggestein and Roland Sallai as well as Manuel Gulde and Daniel-Kofi Kyereh, allowed Schalke to take part in the game for the first time. Although the SC shifted down a gear, the guests hardly managed anything.
Instead, it was Grifo again who had the second Freiburg goal on his feet (34′). Shortly thereafter, Gregoritsch let a cross from Lukas Kübler slip over the top of the goal. Schalke were well served with the two-goal deficit at the break.
At the beginning of the second half, the guests were much more present than in the first half. The good phase only lasted until Hölers scored. Gregoritsch could have increased further in the 64th minute. Five minutes later, Grifo continued to work on his poor conversion of chances. Ginter scored from a corner.
