SC Freiburg

The coaching staff decided to make three changes to the team that started the 3-2 (aet) victory on Thursday night and reshuffled things at the back once again. Christian Günter, Vincenzo Grifo and Michael Gregoritsch came in for Jordy Makengo, Kiliann Sildillia and Roland Sallai, and as he did in the closing phases of the Lens game, veteran Nicolas Höfler began the game at the centre of the back three. 

That is a plan that the SC players are familiar with by now. There were enough weeks with two games in both this season and last. “That’s our job. We have to be fit on Sunday and show what we showed against Lens,” said Roland Sallai, who netted twice against the French side. He will be particularly referring to the second half and extra-time period, when a determined SC came back from 2-0 down to win and secure a spot in the Round of 16 of the Europa League.

Hardly any chances, but then the guests strike twice

After the draw was made, SC captain Christian Günter said: “It’s a bit silly that you can play against your group stage opponents in the last 16. I wasn’t there for the last game, but I will be this time. We can go there full of confidence. It’s not out of the question that we’ll advance and get to face a new opponent.”

SC missed several good chances to score in the first leg last week, something everyone in Freiburg will be hoping won’t be the case this time around. “We have to be clinical tomorrow,” said Grifo. Both teams defended well in Lens, however each will have to make changes for the second leg. Lens are without former Augsburg man Kevin Danso after his yellow card, but Facundo Medina, who missed the first leg after picking up three bookings in the Champions League group stage, is available again.

Hartenbach: We were already hit by the long absence of Philipp Lienhart and the even longer absences of Kenneth Schmidt and Max Rosenfelder. And even though we managed to get a player in for the second half of the season in Attila, we’re still quite short-staffed now. But you can’t plan in advance for so many injuries.

Football was finally played after 11 minutes, though the opening exchanges took place largely in the middle third of the pitch, with neither defence conceding any gilt-edged chances. SC had a sight of the Frankfurt goal on 17 minutes, but Ritsu Doan lost out in an aerial battle with Willian Pacho. The pluckiness demanded by Maximilian Eggestein was certainly on show. Freiburg were looking sharp, winning most of their individual battles and in the ascendancy, but could not carve out any goalscoring opportunities in the first 25 minutes.

In addition to centre-backs Philipp Lienhart and Matthias Ginter, Merlin Röhl will be unavailable for the game against the Eagles. The 21-year-old, who was in the starting XI for the clash with Lens, is still suspended after being sent off against VfB Stuttgart on matchday 20.

A changed side to enter the fiery cauldron 

SC captain Christian Günter is looking forward to what will be his first appearance in the Europa League this season, having been sidelined for several months with injury. “I’m really looking forward to being able to play again and that the lads put in some strong performances in the group stage. I hope that I’ll be able to make at least one or two appearances – or more, hopefully – in the Europa League this season,” said Günter.