“It wasn’t an undeserved win for us. We started well and scored a nice goal. Overall, we were better than we were across the last two games,” said a pleased Christian Streich after SC’s first ever away win in the Bundesliga in Augsburg.

Christian Streich made two changes to the side that drew at home to 1. FSV Mainz 05 last time out. Jonathan Schmid made his first start since 21st August at right-back and Nils Petersen was also handed his first start in a while. Lukas Kübler and Lucas Höler took their places on the bench as a result.

Augsburg’s assistant coaches, who were in charge after head coach Markus Weinzierl tested positive for Covid-19, made one alteration to the side that lost 3-2 against Borussia Mönchengladbach: Carlos Gruezo replaced Jan Morávek.

Petersen makes it 1-0, Gregoritsch equalises

Nils Petersen took less than four minutes to justify his selection, heading in a fine Roland Sallai cross at the front post to make it 1-0.

The other new man in the side, Jonathan Schmid, was then involved. He curled a free-kick just past the post against his former side (7’). Wooyeong Jeong had a good chance after eight minutes in an excellent opening for the visitors.

It took FCA around 10 minutes to recover from going behind, though they quickly found their way into the game thanks to their pace out wide. Flo Niederlechner warned SC of their attacking threat with a shot (14’), before the home team levelled the game shortly afterwards. After Freiburg lost the ball in midfield, Niederlechner initiated the break and fed Gregoritsch. His low shot found the back of the net from the edge of the box to make it 1-1 (16’).

Schlotterbeck puts SC ahead again

14,000 fans witnessed an exciting start to this matchday 23 clash at the WWK-Arena. The action continued to come, the next moment coming from one of many free-kicks from deep. Vincenzo Grifo played it low to Christian Günter, but the SC captain’s cross into the box was straight at Gikiewicz. The ex-Freiburg man let slip of the ball, however, and Nico Schlotterbeck was there to stab home from close range (26’).

The home side looked to stop Freiburg’s build-up play by pressing them early, but SC were more flexible than they were against Mainz and Köln. Apart from centre forward Nils Petersen, all other players were happy to mix up their positions throughout the game. This helped facilitate more dangerous attacks in the first half, though none led to further goals.

Augsburg put the pressure on

The second half had barely begun when FCA had a chance to equalise. Philipp Lienhart was there though to clear the danger with a header whilst Flo Niederlechner and Michael Gregoritsch were poised (46’).

It was clear to see that the Fuggerstädter had come out after the break looking for goals. As a result of this pressure, SC struggled to play their usual style of football. The home team kept getting in dangerous positions down their strong left side, albeit chances didn’t arise as a result.

Höfler misses a chance for 3-1

This period of Augsburg pressure lasted around 15 minutes before the Breisgauer could get back in the game. Wooyeong Jeong had two shots inside two minutes, missing the target on both occasions (57’, 58’).

Five minutes later, Nicolas Höfler had a great opportunity to make it 3-1. Rafal Gikiewicz could only parry a Grifo free-kick, however Höfler skied the rebound from a few yards out (63’).

With 20 minutes left, the majority of the game was being played in the middle of the park. Shots, like Michael Gregoritsch’s header that went wide, were few and far between. The final notable opportunity came in injury time. A long ball by Rafal Gikiewicz was flicked on by Ricardo Pepi to Alfred Finnbogason. The Icelandic striker put his shot past Mark Flekken, but also past the post (91’).

With that chance wasted by FCA, SC held on to all three points and celebrated a deserved away win. This was their first in the Bundesliga away to Augsburg and it now means Freiburg have 37 points ahead of next week’s game at home to Hertha BSC (Saturday at 15:30 CET).

Photo: Achim Keller