SC Freiburg Haberleri

Before the game came to its climatic finish, namely the away side’s major chance in the 80th minute, the 33,500 in attendance at the Europa-Park Stadion saw an even start to the match. Lucas Höler took the first shot of the game from 23 metres out, but his shot was caught by FCA keeper Rafal Gikiewicz (3’).  

Since Christian Streich has been in charge, Freiburg have faced BVB ten times in total, only managing a point in a 2-2 draw in the 2017/18 season. The SCF manager would like to change this statistic on Saturday, as he stressed at the press conference on Thursday: “It really annoys me when I hear a record like this, but we do have the opportunity to improve the statistics. It would be about time, but it’s not like I’m completely desperate now.”

Christian Streich already revealed at his pre-match press conference that there would be changes to the starting line-up compared to the 3-1 win over Augsburg. They totalled three in the end: Vincenzo Grifo, Daniel-Kofi Kyereh and Nicolas Höfler came in for Yannik Keitel, Michael Gregoritsch and Maximilian Eggestein. While the latter two dropped to the bench, Keitel missed out through muscular problems.

The team had a similar situation just two weeks ago, when a poor start to 2023 in Wolfsburg was followed up by a much-improved performance four days later against Frankfurt. Lukas Kübler also saw the similarities. “It’s pretty much like the game in Wolfsburg. We played Frankfurt soon after that game, and this time we have the cup game midweek. So we have an opportunity to make up for it soon.”

The Freiburg coaching staff made five changes to the side which started the defeat away to Borussia Dortmund at the weekend, setting up in a 4-4-2 formation. Outfield, Kiliann Sildillia, Daniel-Kofi Kyereh, Lucas Höler and Ritsu Doan were replaced by Maximilian Eggestein, Roland Sallai, Wooyeong Jeong and Michael Gregoritsch, whilst Noah Atubolu replaced Mark Flekken in goal, as was the case against St. Pauli in the previous Pokal round.

At the press conference this Thursday, Christian Streich answered the media’s questions, but on Saturday the SC coach will not be allowed on the sideline after his second yellow against Borussia Dortmund. “Julian Schuster will be there on the touchline, Lars Voßler will take my place and I will watch the game on a screen,” explained Streich, who is banned from half an hour before until half an hour after the final whistle and is not allowed to communicate with the team during this period.

SC Freiburg wish Kofi all the best for a speedy recovery! 

There was some bad news for SC Freiburg the day before the game, as Daniel Kofi-Kyereh, who twisted his knee in training on Thursday, was diagnosed with having torn his cruciate ligament, ruling the midfielder out for the rest of the season. All the best with your recovery, Kofi! 

This run of wins has catapulted the Blue-Whites from 18th place out of the relegation zone. SC will now be taking on the fifteenth-placed team in the Bundesliga on matchday 21, and Streich expects “a big fight” ahead of them – with the DFB-Pokal quarter-final at the beginning of March 2022 still fresh in the memory. “There will be lots of long balls from their goalkeeper Manuel Riemann towards Philipp Hofmann, one of the best headers of the ball in the Bundesliga. Then there will be second balls and it is about being assertive here.”

Head coach Christian Streich made just one change to the starting XI following last weekend’s 2-1 derby win against VfB Stuttgart. Roland Sallai was on the bench as Lucas Höler replaced him in attack, alongside Gregoritsch. Bochum were without Gerrit Holtmann (knee operation), who had been a thorn in Freiburg’s side when the two sides met earlier this season (1-0 win for SC).