With everything on the line, the tension is always high on the last day of the season. In particular, there were a lot of eyes on Freiburg for the 34th and final fixture of the 2024/25 Bundesliga campaign. On the Breisgau, SC would face off directly against Eintracht Frankfurt in front of a sold-out crowd at the Europa-Park Stadion, while both clubs also battled it out with Borussia Dortmund to determine the final couple of Champions League qualification places. After 90 minutes, however, SCF ended up drawing the short straw and had to settle for a place in next year’s Europa League instead. For head coach Julian Schuster, this success is the main takeaway: “We didn’t lose anything today, rather we gained something. Pride has got to be the overriding emotion. It’s great to have the chance to coach such a great team. We’ve consistently improved and dealt with setbacks well. Everything and everyone, the team, coaching staff, club employees and also our passionate fans, have contributed to us having the chance to play in Europe again.”

“Patience” was the key word for Julian Schuster in the build-up to the biggest game of the season. Both teams’ patience was indeed tested even before the game kicked off, with pyrotechnics from both the home fans – who produced an impressive tifo in the south stand - and away support delaying the start of the game.

Doan stikes in 27th minute

The game got underway a few minutes later, with SC Freiburg lining up with one change to the side that defeated Holstein Kiel. Lucas Höler replaced Patrick Osterhage, who had to drop out at short notice due to illness. Johan Mazimbi moved back into the midfield, while Höler started up front. Freiburg aimed to get forward from the get-go. While Frankfurt initially sat deep, SC flew into challenges with aggression and precision. Their efforts didn’t immediately bring about any clear-cut chances, but there was always danger in and around the Frankfurt penalty area.

The Eagles only started to grow into the game after the quarter-of-an-hour mark and made the match a more open affair. Three corners and a free kick sailed into the Freiburg box, but Frankfurt also couldn’t get a shot away. Of course, it was a tense match, which manifested in a dearth of clear opportunities for both sides during the opening 25 minutes. Then, everything changed in the 27th minute. Philipp Lienhart was stopped in his tracks Arthur Theate, whose long throw-ins into the box had been causing trouble for the hosts. Lienhart managed to go one better than the Belgian, though, as his throw-in flew into the Frankfurt box. There, Matthias Ginter flicked it on to Ritsu Doan who was lingering at the far post and poked the ball over the line from close range. It was the Japanese international’s tenth goal of the season and handed Freiburg a well-deserved lead.

Misfortune at the back

The opener had a clear effect on the visitors, since they had their first string of promising opportunities directly after it. Noah Atubolu was quick to react in between the sticks, first parrying Hugo Ekitiké’s low driven shot away from danger with his arm (33’), before denying Ekitiké once again with the same body part four minutes later. The latter prompted rapturous applause from the fans and pats on the shoulder from his teammates. SCF didn’t rest on their laurels, though, and searched for a second goal. Lienhart continued to cause chaos in the away side’s box with his long throws and was a force in the Freiburg midfield, coming away from nearly every challenge with the ball.

However, Lienhart would experience a moment of misfortune shortly before the break, allowing Frankfurt to capitalise and get themselves back in the game. The centre-back let the ball roll under his foot and Ansgar Knauff pounced on the mistake, slotting the ball home to equalise for Eintracht. The second half got off to a slow start thanks to a VAR check. Referee Benjamin Brand went to the monitor to take a look at a possible handball in the box which would have led to a Frankfurt penalty. In the end, it didn’t come to that, largely because there was an offside in the build-up to the possible handball.

Frankfurt strike twice in quick succession

As the game continued, SCF found themselves under the cosh – BVB were up 2-0 against Kiel, so only a win would guarantee Champions League football – and upped the intensity as a result. Doan danced past two opposition defenders in the 56th minute but was halted by a third on the edge of the box. The intensity of the match was palpable. Every officiating decision was loudly scrutinised, every tackle celebrated like a goal, but in the 63rd minute, the Freiburg fans were completely silent for a couple of seconds.

After SC lost possession in midfield, Rasmus Kristensen found himself in acres of space 18 yards out. His shot found the inside of the post before hitting the back of the net, putting Frankfurt in front. Two minutes later, they had a two-goal cushion. Max Rosenfelder went to ground following a Frankfurt free kick, and Ellyes Skhiri profited from the momentary disorder in the Freiburg defensive ranks to make it 3-1.

The visitors drew back into their own half after extending their advantage, sitting back and concentrating on hitting the opposition on the break – one of their biggest strengths this season. It resulted in Kristensen almost getting a fourth in the 75th minute, but his shot narrowly missed the target. SC were still in the game, though they were simply unable to generate the pressure that had allowed them to take the lead in the first half. By the 84th minute, they still required three goals to secure third or fourth place. In the ten minutes of added time, Maxmilian Eggestein had a chance to get a goal back from Vincenzo Grifo’s cross. The midfielder could only find the side netting with his header.

Pride over disappointment

If there was disappointment in the stands about missing out on Champions League football, it didn’t last for too long. Shortly before the final whistle, the SCF fans showed their appreciation after an impressive season and sang: “Freiburg international” and “Stand up for SCF”. The final whistle signalled defeat on the final day for SC. Since Dortmund’s win over Kiel meant they leapfrogged Freiburg into fourth place, Julian Schuster’s side had to ‘settle’ for a Europa League space. Disappointment was clear to see on the players’ faces, but captain Christian Günter gave a fitting description of the bigger picture: “I’m really proud of the club and its development. If someone had told me twelve years ago that we’d be annoyed about not qualifying for the Champions League, I would have called them mad.”

Photo: Achim Keller