With today's match taking place behind closed doors and therefore without and spectators, it brought back memories of a 3-3 draw between the sides in front of similarly empty stands during the Covid-19 pandemic. At the time, SC were in eighth place –1,319 days later, they find themselves occupying the same spot in the table but level on points with Frankfurt in sixth. Both sides decided against hosting a winter training camp elsewhere and instead met for a friendly at the Deutsche Bank Park  at the start of the new year.

Maximilian Philipp returned to the bench for SC after recovering from a separated shoulder. He was joined by Chicco Höfler, who will miss the upcoming Bundesliga game against Union Berlin due to a yellow-card suspension. Philipp Lienhart, Christian Günter, Kofi Kyereh, Kenneth Schmidt, Max Rosenfelder (all working on their comebacks), Ritsu Doan (AFC Asian Cup) and Lucas Höler (ill) were all left out of the squad.

Noah Atubolu had to make the first save of the afternoon in the 10th minute, as he parried an effort from Eric Dina Ebimbe. Shortly after, a shot from Hugo Larsson just missed the target. The first real chance of the game for SC came in the 15th minute, but Noah Weißhaupt's pass didn't find its way through to Grifo.

The hosts were the most dominant side in the opening moments, and it was a former Freiburg man who managed to put them ahead. Robin Koch's header found the back of the net to make it 1-0 after 24 minutes. SC responded almost immediately, however, as a free kick from Grifo fell to Sallai, who slotted home from 10 metres out (29'). The visitors continued to press, with Röhl forcing Kevin Trapp into a save after a cross from Jordy Makengo. Röhl then scored with his second attempt (34') to put SC 2-1 ahead at the break.

Christian Streich sent out an unchanged line-up for the second half. Grifo switched the play and picked out Sallai, who finished with a stunning effort into the top corner to make it 3-1 (48'). Frankfurt's defence afforded their opponents several gaps which they successfully exploited. After driving the ball down the wing, Weißhaupt picked out Gregoritsch, who netted Freiburg's fourth of the afternoon (55'). Tuta then brought down Sallai inside the box, with Grifo stepping up to convert the resulting penalty to make it 5-1 (64').

Both teams then made several changes in the 75th minute. Streich brought on Lukas Kübler, Höfler, Yannik Keitel, Mika Baur, Philipp and Junior Adamu. Aurelio Buta came off the bench for the Eagles and managed to net a second for SGE with his first touch of the ball, sending a long-range effort into the back of the net (76'). It wasn't enough to spark a furious comeback for the hosts, however, as Freiburg held on to their lead to win, 5-2.

Photo: SC Freiburg

SC Freiburg line-up: Atubolu - Sildillia (75' Kübler), Ginter, Gulde (78' Rüdlin) - Weißhaupt (75' Baur), Röhl (75' Höfler), Eggestein (75' Keitel), Makengo - Sallai (75' Adamu), Grifo (78' Johansson), Gregoritsch (75' Philipp).

Goals: 1-0 Koch (24'), 1-1 Sallai (29'), 1-2 Röhl (34'), 1-3 Sallai (48'), 1-4 Gregoritsch (55'), 1-5 Grifo (64'), 2-5 Buta (76')