“Each game we play in Europe is an experience,” remarked SC club captain Christian Günter at the press conference on the evening before the Europa League clash away to Viktoria Plzeň. A drum show raised the energy inside the ground ahead of kick-off, although there were no goals to follow during the course of the 90 minutes to really make the night a spectacle.

Both teams began with caution, and it took a while for the game to really get going. SC struggled on the counter early on, lacking precision in their final pass against a host who was pushing high up the pitch. Vincenzo Grifo (9’) and Niklas Beste (11’) were both denied by Florian Wiegele at the last moment when in promising one-on-one situations with the Austrian goalkeeper. The first real clear-cut chance fell to Christian Günter after 13 minutes, but his shot from 20 yards out was placed too centrally. Five minutes later, Junior Adamu’s strike from close range was deflected out for a corner off the leg of a defender.

The Freiburg coaching staff opted to make six changes to their starting line-up in comparison to their side that began the 6-2 defeat away to FC Bayern München this past weekend. Max Rosenfelder and Jordy Makengo did not travel as a result of muscle problems and were replaced by Philipp Lienhart and Christian Günter. Lukas Kübler came in at right-back for Philipp Treu, while Derry Scherhant and Lucas Höler made way for Vincenzo Grifo and Junior Adamu across the forward line. Patrick Osterhage returned to the starting XI to play alongside Maximilian Eggestein, with Johan Manzambi moving to the bench.

Plzeň’s goal chalked off

The better team throughout the course of the opening period was SC, who repeatedly created presentable opportunities. “We found our feet well and implemented what we planned to beforehand, albeit without providing the finishing touch,” reported Julian Schuster after full-time. Wiegele produced a strong hand to parry Adamu’s effort from 14 yards (25’) before eye-catchingly taking flight to keep out Eggestein’s long-range attempt (27’).

“Shortly before the break, we gave away possession on a few occasions and allowed Plzeň into the game. I was not so happy about that,” told Schuster. Cheick Souaré appeared most threatening for the hosts before half-time after benefitting from a major error in the Freiburg back line to unleash a strike at Noah Atubolu (36’). The Frenchman then called the SC stopper into action once more from the ensuing corner, directing a volleyed attempt on target, which the German parried confidently.

The home side found another gear as the break neared. With 38 minutes on the clock, Rafiu Durosinmi sent a large section of the 10,200 fans in the Doosan Arena into raptures as he headed a corner-kick delivery into the back of the net. However, Prince Adu had been standing in an offside position and in the eye line of Atubolu, leading to the goal being swiftly ruled out. After the visiting keeper denied a header from Matej Valenta (42’) and Adu’s shot from a tight angle (43’), the goalless half-time score was confirmed.

A big chance at each end in the second period

Igor Matanovic took the place of Junior Adamu for the second half and made an immediate attacking contribution as his headed flick-on found Niklas Beste, whose curling effort zipped just wide of the opposition goal (49’). Three minutes later, the invigorated striker tried his luck himself, but his low driven shot following Günter’s lay-off was dealt with by the Viktoria keeper. Proceedings were playing out largely evenly after the restart before Plzeň head coach Martin Hysky next saw his team threaten on 61 minutes, as Lukas Cerv only narrowly missed the target from 17 yards.

Chances were fewer and further between than in the first half, but substitute Johan Manzambi received the next excellent opportunity around a quarter of an hour before full-time. Wiegele, however, pulled off another brilliant save to tip his shot from 18 yards out around the post (74’). Seven minutes after that, at the other end, Durosinmi then missed the chance to put the home side ahead from 10 yards. “The second half was more tactical. We lacked a bit of flair in our play and often were not quite clinical enough. On the whole, though, I’m satisfied to pick up a point,” revealed Schuster at the post-match press conference.

SC therefore remain undefeated after five rounds of fixtures in this season’s Europa League, taking their points tally to 11 in the process. Freiburg return to Bundesliga action on Sunday, when they welcome 1. FSV Mainz 05 to the Europa-Park Stadion.

Photo: Marco Steinbrenner / DeFodi Images