Thanks to its super jokers, SC Freiburg kept the chance of participating in the Champions League alive for the first time and put the competition under enormous pressure. Christian Günter and Nils Petersen, who had just come on as substitutes, shot the Breisgauer at the start of the penultimate Bundesliga matchday to make it 2-0 (0-0) against VfL Wolfsburg. With the win, SC drew level on points with fourth-placed Union Berlin and is one point behind RB Leipzig in third place.
41 seconds after his substitution, Günter (71st) scored, a little later Petersen (75th) was successful for Freiburg, who after their bankruptcies last against RB (0: 1) and at Union (2: 4) in the fight for the premier class had fallen behind. “Maybe I’ve learned something from Nils over the years,” said Günter DAZN: “My goal doesn’t matter. He’s an outstanding person.”
On Saturday, Freiburg, where Nicolas Höfler saw the red card for foul play (90+3), are looking at the Union games at TSG Hoffenheim and Leipzig at Bayern Munich. VfL suffered a setback in the race for a place in the Europa League.
“It’s not all decided yet. And we definitely have fifth place,” said SC coach Christian Streich, who had to experience the highest defeat of his tenure at 0: 6 in the first leg, shortly before the kick-off at DAZN: “I hope the lads have some lightness back. I hope we move forward.”
Before the last SC home game of the season, Petersen said goodbye. The 34-year-old Bundesliga record joker ends his active career after the season. In addition, Streich surprised with a personality. Captain Günter was on the substitutes’ bench for the first time in over six years because, according to Streich, “after so many games he’s not that fresh anymore”.
Nils Petersen celebrates with fans and drinks beer
After the game, Petersen celebrated with the fans on the fence and even drank a beer that was handed to him from the corner. Even minutes after the final whistle, the whole team was celebrating with the SCF supporters, Petersen was on the fence the entire time. Afterwards he had tears in his eyes.
In front of 33,300 spectators, not much happened in front of both goals. The defensive lines had everything under control. Only Vincenzo Grifo caused a little danger in the VfL penalty area (14th). After this scene, Freiburg took control, but the hosts didn’t create any real chances to score until the middle of the first half.
VfL Wolfsburg far too passive
Wolfsburg, who had to do without Maxence Lacroix, Lukas Nmecha and Paulo Otavio, acted extremely passively for long stretches. Grifo couldn’t punish that after a VfL defensive error (24′).
After about half an hour, the guests gained more game shares, but the game itself hardly had any highlights in this phase. The encounter was characterized by duels, successful moves were rare. The goalless draw at the break correctly reflected the course of the first half.
At the beginning of the second half it was tough, only the Wolfsburg fans provided fireworks with their pyro escapades. VfL goalkeeper Koen Casteels easily parried a direct acceptance by Freiburg’s Roland Sallai (56′), the rest remained largely piecemeal. Petersen and Günter came on in the 70th minute – and turned things up a notch with their hits.
SC Freiburg – VfL Wolfsburg: The voices
Christian Streich (Coach SC Freiburg): “You will never forget the game. I don’t know how it will be in the dressing room without Nils Petersen. He came off the bench more often, but he carried everything for the team. We will stay in touch for life. “
Niko Kovac (VfL Wolfsburg coach): “In the end it was a deserved defeat. The game was balanced up to the 70th minute. Then we conceded the goal with a deflected shot. After that we lost faith. The last 20 minutes were crucial.”
