“It wasn’t a classic, but we’re happy with the three points,” goalscorer Ginter summed up after a game that was shaped and decided by clever set pieces and quick transitions. Head coach Julian Schuster saw it similarly: “We’re pleased with the three points. We had good moments in terms of winning the ball back and it was positive that we then took our chances. The team reacted as a unit today, and that helps us get games over the line.”

With Igor Matanovic, Vincenzo Grifo and Niklas Beste coming in for Lucas Höler, Derry Scherhant and Cyriaque Irié, SC made three changes from the away game in Hoffenheim. Karl Steinmann and Rouven Tarnutzer, both from the U23s, were also in the squad, and Maximilian Philipp was included in the matchday squad for the first time since November 2025.

Johan Manzambi was suspended, and alongside the injured Philipp Lienhart, Lukas Kübler and Max Rosenfelder, the list of absentees also included the not fully fit Nicolas Höfler. Beste immediately caused plenty of problems for the Mönchengladbach defence in the opening stages – first winning a free-kick in an attacking area after three minutes, then being denied a shot at the top of the six-yard box four minutes later by a last-ditch intervention.

Quick transitions and a set-piece goal

Julian Schuster’s side, unbeaten in 17 home games against the team from the Lower Rhine, initially had the game under control, but after a quarter of an hour, they allowed the visitors to grow into it and forced themselves deeper. Up to the 25-minute mark, though, the match hadn’t produced any promising chances – and Borussia’s Haris Tabakovic also caused no problems for Noah Atubolu in the SC goal with his long-range effort.

SC responded through Beste, who was brought down at full sprint by former Freiburg player Yannik Engelhardt. Grifo’s resulting free-kick was initially cleared, but Yuito Suzuki still got a shooting chance. On that occasion too, the goalkeeper – this time Moritz Nicolas – held safely. Just a few minutes later (34’), after winning the ball and breaking quickly, Suzuki sent Beste through with a pass in behind. The angle was a little too tight for the attacker, and Nicolas again gathered safely. In the 36th minute, another transition after a midfield turnover led to SC’s next attacking move involving Grifo and Suzuki, but the Japanese forward could not get a shot away.

Freiburg kept the pressure on in this phase and took the lead with their 16th set-piece goal of the season. After a long throw from Philipp Treu, a Mönchengladbach player inadvertently flicked the ball on with his head to Ginter, who acrobatically turned and forced it over the line ahead of his marker. Even so, he was still teased by his teammates afterwards: “I’ve already had to hear that my goal wasn’t as good as Ache’s. I just wanted to get the ball on target somehow, and I managed that.” Ragnar Ache scored for 1. FC Köln against TSG Hoffenheim this weekend with a perfect overhead kick.

Beste misses the chance to make it 2-0

At the start of the second half, the 14th-placed visitors had plenty of the ball, but still had not created a dangerous chance after 60 minutes. SC Freiburg waited for turnovers to break forward quickly. And yet in the 63rd minute, it was another set piece, another throw-in, from which the hosts should have made it 2-0. At the far post, Beste stuck out a foot but was denied from two yards by Nicolas, who reacted brilliantly.

At the other end, the Foals had a good shooting opportunity through Franck Honorat, whose effort from around 20 yards flew wide of the Freiburg goal. Kevin Diks then forced Atubolu into a flying save in the 69th minute, which the goalkeeper dealt with confidently, before also safely cutting out a long ball into the box just ahead of the onrushing Honorat.

Matanovic adds a second, Borussia pull one back

When Atubolu finally was beaten after 84 minutes – albeit by a Tabakovic goal that was ruled out because of offside – it was already 2-0. SC had finished off a wonderful transition move ten minutes earlier. After winning the ball near the centre circle, Grifo cleverly slipped Maximilian Eggestein into the box, and his shot was parried into the path of Matanovic, who made no mistake to double the lead.

The goal to make it 2-1 in the 85th minute came too late for the visitors. Tabakovic headed in after a corner, but SC Freiburg did not allow another chance afterwards and therefore continued not only their now nine-game unbeaten run at home in the Bundesliga, but also extended their home streak against Mönchengladbach to 18 meetings without defeat.

Photo: SC Freiburg