"We started the game really well and should have gone in front before the break," said Christian Streich after the game. "The game became a lot more balanced after that, but my team was prepared to throw everything they had at the game today, so we deserved to win – and finally did so with a set-piece goal again." 

"We struggled to get into the game," admitted FCA head coach, Heiko Herrlich. "We actually played really well in the second half, but we defended the first goal really badly and then their second put the game beyond reach." 

Four changes – starting XI debut for Til

SCF started the game with four changes to last weekend’s eleven vs. Mainz. Lukas Kübler, Manuel Gulde, Baptiste Santamaria and Guus Til replaced Jonathan Schmid, Dominique Heintz, Keven Schlotterbeck and Wooyeong Jeong, who all took their place on the bench. For Til, who started in the number 10 role behind Lucas Höler, this was a full SC Freiburg debut. Streich’s men adopted a 4-4-2 formation. 

Nils Petersen was not part of the squad. The forward was left out as a precautionary measure following an unclear coronavirus test, which is to be followed up with more tests. SC Freiburg wearing the yellow alternate kit had nothing to do with the official start of spring – this unfamiliar sight at the Schwarzwald-Stadion was due to a player’s colour vision deficiency.  

The visitors started made no changes to the side that started in their 3-1 home win over Borussia Mönchengladbach. Christian Streich had demanded a better performance than in Mainz and in the last home game against Leipzig, and his players responded accordingly. In an intense encounter, SCF began well, dominated proceedings and created the far better chances. 

Dominant start, goalless half

In the third minute, Roland Sallai’s header was saved by Rafal Gikiewicz, who was called upon again for Augsburg moments later when Christian Günter set up Santamaria. The Frenchman’s first-time shot was parried away by Gikiewicz and the rebound was headed just over the bar by Til. After a quarter of an hour, FCA’s shot stopper thwarted another Freiburg chance, this time saving from Nicolas Höfler after a short corner. 

It was not until the 20th minute that the visitors had their first sights at goal. Marco Richter missed the target from distance twice in quick succession but Augsburg began to go in search of the opener and cropped up in front of Müller’s goal time and again. All that, however, without creating a clear-cut chance, for which credit goes to SCF’s concentrated defending. Augsburg were equally focused at the back, though, meaning both teams went into the half-time break goalless.  

"More energy," was the call from Christian Streich, not that his team lacked it. Accuracy in front of goal was what stood between SCF and the half-time lead. 

Sallai gives Freiburg the lead after the restart

Just a few minutes into the second half, Freiburg captain Christian Günter showed the energy that his coach had demanded. He broke through down the left and drove into the Augsburg penalty area. His pass found the feet of Sallai, who converted to give SC a deserved lead (51’).

The visitors could have had a quick equaliser, but Florian Müller showed his ability to deny Marko Richter from a tight angle. Freiburg made their first substitution of the game, bringing on Ermedin Demirović for Til. The striker narrowly missed a cross from Günter.

Even if the hosts were controlling the game, as they had done for the majority, they still had to keep their concentration up because the guests were getting ever closer to the Freiburg goal. The majority of the threat, however, was coming from distance. Rani Khedira saw an effort tipped behind by Müller (58’), who also saved a Daniel Caligiuri free-kick soon after (66’).

Lienhart puts the game to bed

Augsburg threatened more and more as the game went on and Freiburg were only rarely able to find any relief. The moment that settled the match was created by that man Günter again, this time with a set piece from the left-hand side; Demirović  headed the freekick against the right-hand post and the rebound fell to Philipp Lienhart to head home (79’). The linesman had his flag in the air, though, and the goal was only confirmed two minutes later after a check by VAR.

It was the Austrian defender’s fourth goal of the season, a notable achievement. In the final minutes, Freiburg defended the lead to earn a well-deserved home when. Going into the international break, Freiburg sit in eighth place with 37 points.After a friendly against Basel on Thursday, the fight for points will continue the weekend after next against Borussia Mönchengladbach (3rd April, 20.30 CEST).

Photo: Achim Keller