The Freiburg coaching staff opted to make four changes from their side that began the 0-0 draw away to Union Berlin. Philipp Lienhart, who served a domestic suspension at the weekend, returned to replace Max Rosenfelder in central defence. Lukas Kübler came in for Philipp Treu at right-back, while Derry Scherhant got the nod over Niklas Beste in the right-wing birth. Yuito Suzuki played in behind the striker while Lucas Höler took up a place on the bench.

There were a couple of peculiarities on the evening at the Allianz Riviera for the travelling SC fans, who made up part of the just 15,274 in attendance at the around 35,000-capacity stadium and not purely as a result of the attendance restrictions put in place by UEFA. Furthermore, Greek referee Tasos Sidiropoulos repeatedly brought the game to a halt throughout the game’s opening half hour due to his dissatisfaction with multiple match balls seemingly not being pumped up to regulation levels.

Potentially as a result, both sides struggled to find their flow initially and goalmouth action remained scarce early on. With six minutes played, Ali Abdi got the better of Scherhant in an aerial duel on the edge of the Freiburg box, heading the ball in the direction of Kevin Carlos in the centre. However, Matthias Ginter was on hand in the nick of time to prevent him from giving the hosts a fast start. Down the other end, Scherhant was involved once more as he tested Yehvann Diouf in the home net from 20 yards (7’).

Freiburg net thrice inside 13 minutes

Former SC (2008-2011) and Nice (2014-2018) goalkeeper Simon Pouplin had predicted a goalless draw ahead of kick-off. However, with just 25 minutes played, the 40-year-old’s prognosis had already gone up in smoke as Carlos slotted home coolly when one-on-one with Atubolu after a fine piece of play from Charles Vanhoutte to slip the striker in on goal.

“I was not completely satisfied with the opening half an hour, during which we gave the ball away unnecessarily a number of times. That made it all the more important for us to turn the game around before the break,” reported Julian Schuster after full-time. The home crowd came to life when their team grabbed the opener, but the mood was dampened just four minutes later. Nice captain Melvin Bard’s heavy touch inside his own box was pounced upon by Suzuki, who turned over possession before squaring for the arriving Manzambi. The Switzerland international took a couple of steps forward with the ball before smashing it into the far top corner (29’).

Bard and Suzuki were directly involved with one another again just eight minutes after that, as the clearly unsettled French defender brought down the Freiburg midfielder when attempting the clear inside his own 18-yard box. Vincenzo Grifo stepped up to confidently dispatch the subsequent spot kick for 2-1 and his 100th goal in the colours of SC (39’).

Suzuki then played his part once more as the visitors bagged a third goal inside 13 minutes. His cross from the left found Ginter in the middle of the penalty area, who in turn laid off for Scherhant. Just two minutes earlier, Diouf had done well to parry a strike from the winger, but on this occasion, a rather weaker effort from 16 yards skimmed over the keeper’s outstretched foot and into the net to make it 3-1 to SC. Shortly afterwards, the official brought the first period to a close, which was greeted by the sound of whistles from the home fans.

Kübler misses the chance to make it four

Assistant coach Franz-Georg Wieland had provided words of warning in the lead up to the fixture regarding the French side’s threat on the counter. However, with the hosts now trailing by two, it was they who would have to push forward in the search of goals. SC could therefore sit back and could even have added a fourth goal on 53 minutes when Diouf misjudged a Grifo corner, presenting Kübler with an open net at the far post. The ball came at the defender quickly, though, and he himself seemed surprised to receive the chance and was only able to direct his effort wide of the target.

Proceedings became livelier once more as Jeremie Boga firstly struck only the sliding Lienhart with his shot following a one-two with Sofiane Diop before a deflected Tiago Gouveia cross ricocheted off the bar (62’). At the opposite end, Junior Adamu broke beyond the last line of defence, but showed too much of the ball to Diouf when attempting to go round the stopper (64’).

During the closing stages, SC defended resolutely and did not allow their hosts any further chances of note. Schuster: “We are pleased to get the win and the three points. It is not easy to create opportunities against Nice. It is even more satisfying to have come from behind.”

The victory sees Freiburg take their points tally in the UEFA Europa League to 10 ahead of Sunday’s Bundesliga clash at home to FC St. Pauli (15:30 CET). That fixture will be followed by the latest international break.

Photo: Jöran Steinsiek