With the opening weekend fast approaching in the Bundesliga, the press conference room at the Europa-Park-Stadion was full once again, with latecomers finding out the hard way that it was standing room only on Thursday.

Head coach Julian Schuster's side are set to open the 2025/26 league campaign at home against FC Augsburg, with the stadium's home sectors sold-out ahead of Saturday's match. Freiburg's record at home against FCA is better than against any other side currently in the top flight, with Augsburg winless on each of their last ten trips to the Black Forest in the Bundesliga. In fact, FCA have only managed to avoid defeat on one of these ten occasions, during a 1-1 draw in September 2019.

Sandro Wagner has been at the helm of FCA since this summer, with Schuster asked to comment on his first games in charge of the side. "Augsburg were very solid at the back last season and you can see now that they have carried several things into the new season," he said, adding that Wagner's team are also "very creative in possession."

Two set-piece goals against Lotte

Both goals in SC's 2-0 win against Lotte came from set pieces, with striker Lucas Höler and his fellow attackers struggling to create much from open play. "Creating chances in the final third against an opponent that defends deep is a real art form," Schuster said, although he's not expecting Saturday's opponents to play in a similar set-up.

Schuster kept his cards close to his chest when asked whether he would name an unchanged starting line-up this weekend. "I'm obviously thinking of who could play," he said, adding that he hasn't made a final decision in "two, three" positions. "I think that both teams are pretty evenly-matched. Small things can make the difference, as can a week of training, as well as how you approach the game," Schuster explained.

Igor Matanovic, Philipp Treu and Max Rosenfelder are all still unavailable for selection, with the trio all still working their way back to full fitness. Treu and Rosenfelder have been able to complete parts of team training recently, but are not yet ready to return.

"We have been able to work hard to achieve certain things and there were certain steps we're reached in our development over the first year together. However, the first matchday will show us where we're at," Schuster said, who received his trophy as 'Coach of the Year,' as voted by sports magazine kicker, following the press conference.

Photo: SC Freiburg