The coaches had agreed on two 35-minute periods for the day’s first game, played on the training pitch next to the Europa-Park Stadion. Igor Matanović and Keisuke Goto, who both returned to training later than the rest of the squad after going to the World Cup, made their first pre-season appearances and played almost the full 70 minutes.

Cyriaque Irié led Freiburg’s first attack with a powerful burst down the right. Carrying the ball, Irié outpaced his opponents over 55 metres and made it all the way to the byline, but the Strasbourg defence cleared his cross. The next dangerous move came down the left. Vincenzo Grifo cut inside in trademark fashion and saw his shot from the edge of the box blocked, but the ball fell perfectly for Rouven Tarnutzer, who curled a superb effort from just over 18 yards into the top corner to give Freiburg the lead (18’).

SC continued to threaten from both flanks and were rewarded again just a few minutes later. Irié clipped a ball through for Matanović, who was brought down by goalkeeper Timéo Raffourt after getting through on goal. Grifo stepped up and confidently dispatched the resulting penalty to make it 2-0 (26’).

Freiburg continued to have more of the play in the second period, although neither side created any major chances. The first game of the double-header therefore ended in a 2-0 win for SC.

Goals: 1-0 Tarnutzer (18’), 2-0 Grifo (26’)

SC Freiburg: Müller – Treu, Ogbus, Rosenfelder, Makengo – Irié, Osterhage, Tarnutzer, Grifo – Goto (63’ Zelic), Matanović