With work ongoing on the pitch at the Europa-Park Stadion, the friendly against FC Basel took place behind closed doors on the training pitch. In addition to those injured or away on international duty, Ritsu Doan (dental operation) and Lucas Höler (infection) were unavailable for SCF. Seven U23 players therefore bolstered Freiburg’s squad for the friendly.

It’s not going well in sporting terms currently for Basel. FCB sit bottom of the Swiss Super League after nine games and made a change of coach at the end of September. Sporting director Heiko Vogel, formerly of FC Bayern II, took over from ex-FC St. Pauli boss Timo Schultz at the helm.

Good start, early deficit

SCF began with two really good opportunities. After three minutes, Matthias Ginter got his head to Lukas Kübler’s cross from about five yards out, but FCB goalkeeper Mirko Salvi tipped the ball over the bar from the centre of the goal. A few minutes later, there was a free kick in perfect Grifo range. The captain curled the ball against the right post.

The guests made more out of less. During the first Basel attack, a ricochet landed at the feet of Fabian Frei. FC Basel’s record appearance maker left Florian Müller with no chance as he chipped home for 1-0 (9’). The next advance into the Freiburg penalty area also caused confusion. Juan Carlos Gauto reacted quickest and struck through the crowd to make it 2-0 early on (19’).

SCF then changed from a back three to a back four. The best chances to reduce the deficit went begging, with Noah Weißhaupt, who played on the right, firing wide of the far post (35’), before Maximilian Eggestein shot just over from around 16 yards out (41’). SCF therefore went in 2-0 down at the break.

Ginter gets a goal back

The action predominantly took place in Basel’s half during the second period. Small fouls and a tightly-knit defence prevented the game flowing and limited goalscoring opportunities. This pattern lasted a good hour until Matthias Ginter grabbed one back for Freiburg at the back post from a Weißhaupt cross (63’).

One of the many free kicks then brought SC’s best chance to equalise. Vincenzo Grifo aimed for and picked out Manuel Gulde, with Mirko Salvi managing to keep his header out with a magnificent save.
SC made changes in the closing stages of the game. Philipp Fahrner levelled things up at 2-2, which SC had fully deserved throughout the entire game, with the final action of the clash as he fired home from six yards out in additional time (90+1’).

“The second half was driven and we tried everything, so the result was also deserved,” said head coach Christian Streich after the final whistle. “A few things were good, a few things less good. Some performed well, some less well. The lads could play and now get the weekend off.”

Photo: Tobias Almer