The 4,200 travelling SC fans saw an energetic but ultimately unrewarded display from their team at the Volksparkstadion in Hamburg on Sunday afternoon. That meant that Freiburg were unable to secure seventh spot in the standings and hence their place in next season’s UEFA Conference League ahead of the final day of the league campaign.

I cannot be happy with our performance today. It didn’t go how we pictured it, regardless of what happened during the week. We made a lot of poor decisions on the ball in the first half, too. It would be too easy to put it down to fatigue. I find today’s defeat very frustrating,” said a frustrated Julian Schuster after the game.

The fact that SC could make sure of European football again next season already on the penultimate matchday was reflected in the starting line-up, with only two changes made from the line-up that began Thursday’s Europa League semi-final second leg. Lucas Höler and Bruno Ogbus started in place of Nicolas Höfler and Philipp Lienhart.

Jatta and Matanovic find the net

The first round of applause for the visitors from Freiburg was heard even before kick-off, when the raucous Hamburg crowd loudly congratulated SC on reaching the Europa League final. When the two teams went to battle on the pitch a few minutes later, it was the home side who had reason to make noise once again. This time around, however, that was because Bakery Jatta, after a well-placed lay-off to the far post, slotted home unpressured from close range to put HSV ahead (14’).

Although, with not even 120 seconds elapsed after the goal for 1-0, it was back all-square. After his brace on the continent, it was Lukas Kübler who provided the assist. His cross picked out Igor Matanovic in the six-yard box and he volleyed eye-catchingly under Daniel Heuer Fernandes (16’). Another four minutes and a shot against the Hamburg post later, the 57,000 spectators in the sold-out Volksparkstadion had been treated to an entertaining and eventful opening phase, in which the home side had generally had the upper hand.

1-1 at the break

Midway through the first half, the pace of the game waned slightly. Both teams’ defences tightened up, meaning there were few further chances in front of goal. A swivelling shot from Matanovic from 18 yards, which went just wide of the post, marked the last chance before the teams headed into the dressing rooms.

The teams emerged unchanged for the second period. However, both had good chances to add to their tallies. Otto Stange started his run a good 40 yards from Noah Atubolu’s goal but surged forward and was only denied by an impressive Matthias Ginter block (46’). Heuer Fernandes then tipped over a Kübler try from range.

Vuskovic and Baldé make it 3-1

Although the SC didn’t give away much from open play after that, they were unable to muster any real threat in front of the opposition’s goal either. Overall, the northern club remained the slightly better side, ultimately sealing the win with two goals in the space of three minutes. First, Atubolu was denied by Vuskovic’s deflected free-kick (64’), then Fabio Baldé made it 1-3 in a one-on-one with the keeper (67’).

The two-goal deficit invigorated the away team once again, with Freiburg getting back into the game with a strike on 87 minutes. Matanovic rose highest from a corner and headed into the far bottom corner. The goal did not change things after seven minutes of added time, though.

SC have a point advantage on Eintracht Frankfurt and Augsburg ahead of the final matchday. RB Leipzig visit the Europa-Park Stadion this coming Saturday at 15:30 CEST.

Photo: Fabian Bimmer