Almost three months on from the Europa League final in Istanbul, the excitement ahead of the new season was clear to see among the supporters. Crowds were already gathering at the fan festival outside the Zäpfle-Garten four hours before kick-off. The festival featured a host of activities and competitions organised by SC’s partners.

Ahead of Freiburg’s first competitive fixture on Thursday, a total of 29,000 fans came to watch the 120-minute final pre-season match against reigning Conference League champions Crystal Palace. SC made a bright start in the afternoon heat, with Niklas Beste registering their first effort after four minutes. The hosts looked to play their way out from the back even when put under pressure.

The game at the Europa-Park Stadion was also the south London side's final friendly before the competitive action begins. After a fairly cagey opening few minutes, Pierre Sage’s side began to spend more time in the Freiburg half, but were still unable to trouble the SC defence in the opening 45 minutes.

Freiburg were also unable to create much at the other end, with Maximilian Eggestein coming closest to breaking the deadlock shortly before the interval. The teams went in goalless after a first 45 minutes short on chances.

Engelhardt back with a goal

SCF made the stronger start in a much livelier second period. Yuito Suzuki, who had already had two good opportunities, was played through with an excellent pass in the 57th minute. The Japan international was denied by Eagles goalkeeper Dean Henderson, but Engelhardt arrived to tuck home the rebound. “The atmosphere was brilliant. I shouted to Yuito that he could square it to me, but he didn’t hear me. It worked out in the end, though,” said Engelhardt after scoring his first goal for SC since returning to the club.

Shortly afterwards, the match was over for much of the starting XI. With the coaching staff keen to give as many players as possible enough minutes, Freiburg made a number of changes just over half an hour into the second period. The substitutions did little to disrupt SC’s rhythm. Scherhant went close to a second with a dangerous free kick before Höler headed home from the resulting corner to make it 2-0 (66’).

The two-goal lead had the crowd in fine spirits. A Mexican wave swept around the stadium during the closing stages of the second period, growing in momentum each time it came around and continuing until shortly before the end of the second period.

Soon after the final 30 minutes got under way, Keisuke Goto went close to adding a third, but his deflected effort went narrowly wide. Instead, the impressive Scherhant wrapped up a deserved victory in the 104th minute, finding himself completely through on goal before lifting the ball over substitute goalkeeper Walter Benitez.

“I’m particularly pleased with our work out of possession. The lads were very disciplined and worked extremely hard. We barely allowed the opposition any chances and also played well in possession,” said Julian Schuster. The game served as a successful final run-out ahead of Thursday’s Conference League play-off first leg away to Motherwell.

SC Freiburg: Backhaus (90’ Müller) – Treu (63’ Kübler), Ginter (90’ Ogbus), Rosenfelder (63’ Lienhart), Makengo (77’ Günter) – Beste (63’ Irié), Eggestein (90’ Yilmaz), Suzuki (77’ Goto), Engelhardt (63’ Osterhage), Grifo (63’ Scherhant) – Matanovic (63’ Höler)

Goals: 1-0 Engelhardt (57’), 2-0 Höler (66’), 3-0 Scherhant (104’)