It’s that time of year: every few days brings a new game against another opponent in a different competition. Bundesliga, Europa League and DFB-Pokal games are coming thick and fast for Freiburg. There’s rarely much time to prepare for each undertaking, as every single week in the period stretching from the end of November’s international break right up to the home affair against Borussia Dortmund on 14th December sees SC tasked with a midweek fixture.

Such a packed schedule can often make it difficult to focus on just the next opponent without looking too far ahead into the future: “I always have to force myself not to keep looking one step ahead of where we’re at,” said Julian Schuster during the press conference squeezed in between ties with Darmstadt and Heidenheim. “We sometimes have just the two days to both analyse and recover from one game and also get set for the next task.”

This two-day window will need to be enough to prepare for the trip to Heidenheim this Saturday, where SC will take on a second relegation-zone opponent in two weeks following matchday 12’s 4-0 win over Mainz 05. Heidenheim have only managed to record two wins so far in their third successive first-division campaign, most recently with a last-minute 2-1 comeback win away at Union Berlin last weekend.

 “The win in Berlin will definitely fill them with a sense of confidence,” recognises Schuster, who predicts the game at the Voith-Arena to be characterised by plenty of physicality and energy: “We have to go toe-to-toe with them when it comes to physicality, otherwise it could become difficult for us very quickly. With the coach and the fans behind them, Heidenheim will be able to generate a lot of energy.”

Grifo’s favourite opposition

SC Freiburg managed to get the better of FCH both home and indeed away in the previous campaign. Vincenzo Grifo struck his name onto the scoresheet in both games, putting away three of his total of eight goals last season against this weekend’s challengers. The German-Italian is heading into matchday 13 on hot goalscoring form, having netted against Mainz on Sunday and Darmstadt in the Pokal midweek. If he can once again beat the keeper in Heidenheim, he’ll hit a total of 70 Bundesliga goals for SC – a figure that would see him crowned the club’s all-time record Bundesliga goalscorer.

Time will tell if Grifo’s stunning record in front of goal, as well as a promising history of just one defeat in six competitive games against head coach Frank Schmidt’s side, will be enough to improve SC’s fortunes on the road this season. Freiburg have only picked up five of their 16 points in 2025/26 away from home, comprising their sole away win in Bremen, and a pair of goalless draws in Mönchengladbach and Berlin.

Regarding the squad situation, there continues to be a lack of bad news despite the packed schedule. “The boys are all feeling good after the cup tie, which is great to see as we head towards Saturday,” said Schuster, who will once again be able to call upon Philipp Lienhart (recently rested for load management reasons) as his side make the trip to FCH.

Photo: SC Freiburg