The impressively grown SC Freiburg has underlined its longing for the big Champions League stage with fighting spirit and efficiency. Christian Streich’s high-flyers got very close to the lucrative zone with a 2-1 (0-0) win in Sunday’s Bundesliga game at Werder Bremen. The Breisgauer put RB Leipzig and Union Berlin under pressure – they meet both opponents in the final sprint of the league.
“It was a team success, we can all be satisfied. We showed what kind of team we are,” said Freiburg’s Roland Sallai DAZN: “We are very happy with these three points.”
After the hosts had taken the lead by Maximilian Philipp (46th), who convincingly replaced the injured top striker Niclas Füllkrug, the SCF fought back with a lot of mentality. After Sallai equalized (67′), which marked Freiburg’s 1,000th Bundesliga goal, Lucas Höler turned the game on matchday 28 in front of 41,500 spectators with his header (71′).
“The goal doesn’t do me any good if it doesn’t help the team decisively. We were the better team, Freiburg have two chances and scored two goals,” said Philipp: “We don’t need to badmouth our performance, but it’s about points – and we have to get them.”
Much to the delight of Streich, who wasn’t happy with the first half. His team worked in a disciplined manner on the defensive, but lacked the necessary penetrating power. She then proved this in the second round. Werder coach Ole Werner, on the other hand, has to analyze the sixth game in a row without success. The distance to the relegation place is still a reassuring eight points.
The guests from Freiburg, who are also in the semi-finals of the DFB Cup, started the duel confidently and combined skillfully near the penalty area, but without initially endangering the goal of Werder keeper Jiri Pavlenka. The hosts fought back with commitment and physicality – and initially neither team was able to create any real chances. Streich was not enough, he yelled instructions on the lawn, clearly dissatisfied. A free kick from Vincenzo Grifo (26th) was the most dangerous scene in the first half.
Suddenly there was real steam in the second round. First Grifo demanded a penalty after a supposed handball. In return, Bittencourt kept the overview and used Philipp brilliantly. The fans in the Weser Stadium were really there now and scented the possibly decisive step towards relegation.
And the guests? Shortly after Werder took the lead, they narrowly missed Sallai’s prompt response (50′) – but stayed put and were rewarded. In the final phase, too, the prank team continued to play forward and hoped for the decision.
Werder Bremen – SC Freiburg: The data for the game
Bremen: Pavlenka – Stark (Pieper 83), Veljkovic, Friedl – Weiser, Groß (Gruev 75), Jung – Bittencourt (Schmidt 77), Stage (Schmid 75) – Philipp (Dinkci 83), Ducksch. – Coach: Werner
