SC Freiburg

“We have been able to find an excellent solution for our current situation. Attila has experience playing internationally and will be able to help us out right away,” said Klemens Hartenbach. “With his robust stature and strength at winning duels, he can be a key component in any defence. We’re very much looking forward to working together and are all working hard in order to achieve our joint aims.”

To remember the millions of people that were stigmatised, brutally persecuted and murdered during the Second World War, the players wore hoodies with the hashtag #everynamecounts on them, representing a project by the Arolsen Archives, the international center on Nazi persecution. The 27th January will mark the 79th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp.

Photo: Achim Keller

The coaching staff received this information on Thursday morning. “He wasn’t able to deal with high strain. We were already apprehensive and tried to deal with the issue conservatively at first,” SC’s head coach explained. The Austrian centre-back was in the squad for the game against Union Berlin last Saturday. “We’ll see what we can do now – whether we can still get someone in on loan, loan someone with an option to buy or just sign somebody. We’re discussing all options and we won’t react hastily or do anything rash.”

The first few minutes on the pitch were equally quiet. This period of quiet was broken after four minutes, with a murmur going around the ground after Michael Gregoritsch found himself in a promising position in front of the Union goal, but he couldn’t get a shot away. A minute later, Merlin Röhl, who was playing slightly deeper due to Nicolas Höfler’s absence, but who tried to pose an attacking threat nevertheless, headed a chance wide of the target after a cross from Vincenzo Grifo.

An improvement in Berlin

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.

Freiburg’s only friendly game before the Bundesliga restarts will follow their first week of training in 2024. On Saturday, SCF travel to take on Eintracht Frankfurt at 13:00 CET. The match will be played behind closed doors.

The players are due back in training on 2nd January. Fans can attend the session on 4th January (10:00 CET) next to the Europa-Park Stadion. The only friendly before the Bundesliga returns for SC is away to Eintracht Frankfurt on 6th January. The game against the Eagles, who are on the same points as SC, will be played as three 45 minutes. It will be played behind closed doors.