It has been a fair while since the last time SC Freiburg hosted 1. FC Kaiserslautern. The Red Devils’ last visit to Breisgau was all the way back in 2016, the year Freiburg won promotion to the Bundesliga. Chicco Höfler, who is still playing at SCF eight-and-a-half years later, scored early on to give the home side the lead at the Dreisamstadion. Three other players there on that day were also present for this match, those being Christian Günter and Vincenzo Grifo of SCF and Jean Zimmer of FCK.
In fact, it was the skipper who had the first real chance of the game at the ten-minute mark. Günter’s driven shot from 18 yards out went just wide of the goal. At the other end, Flo Müller pulled off a strong save to deny Richmond Tachie. The hosts saw more of the ball and created the more dangerous chances in the first half, such as when Noah Weißhaupt’s header from a Lukas Kübler threatened the FCK goal (20’). Maxi Eggestein was next to let fly a few minutes later, but could only find the side netting. Shortly before half time, Freiburg’s dominance began to be reflected on the scoreboard. Maximilian Philipp got on the end of Weißhaupt’s cross, and his effort went in via a deflection to make it 1-0 (43’).
The visitors from Kaiserslautern, currently in the 2. Bundesliga started the second half in more attacking fashion. A stylish volley from Daisuke Yokota sailed narrowly wide of the SC goal (55’). At the other end, FCK goalkeeper Oscar Linner clawed a placed shot from Yann Sturm away from the top corner (60’). Kaiserslautern looked to be threatening an equaliser, but it was Sport-Club once again who scored next. A brilliant pass from Matthias Ginter put Maximilian Philipp through on Linner’s goal – and he calmly slotted home to make it 2-0. After securing his brace Philipp was substituted.
Kaiserslautern pulled one back through Jannis Heuer after a brave showing in the second half (82’). In the end, it was a 2-1 friendly win for SC, who meet FC Augsburg in the Bundesliga in a week’s time (Saturday, 15:30 CEST). FCK play SC Paderborn in the evening of the same day in the 2. Bundesliga.
Goals: 1-0 Philipp (43’), 2-0 Philipp (76′), 2-1 Heuer (82′)
SC: Müller – Günter (63′ Pellegrino), Makengo, Ginter (84′ Steinmann), Kübler (77′ Wörner) – Weißhaupt, Höfler, Eggestein (46′ Osterhage), Dinkci (46′ Grifo) – Philipp (77′ Müller), Sturm.