SC come back to draw after trailing against Fiorentina

As is the case every year, the last game of pre-season took place in collaboration with the season opening. A long day for the fans in midsummer temperatures: a varied program around the stadium, two team presentations of both the SC men and SC women, as well as the pre-season match over 3×45 minutes against AC Fiorentina. 33,300 spectators came to the Europa-Park Stadion – a great turnout.

With the exception of Manuel Gulde (back problems) and Kiliann Sildillia, silver medal winner at the Olympic Games with the French national team, the whole squad turned up for the team presentation. However, new signing Eren Dinkci (recovery training after groin problems), Lukas Kübler, Roland Sallai (both muscular problems), Noah Atubolu (after appendix surgery) and Daniel-Kofi Kyereh (after knee surgery) did not play in this final pre-season test.

Good start but SC go down a goal early on

Freiburg started well, but lost the ball in the opposition half after ten minutes. After winning the ball, Andrea Colpani was unchallenged as he laid off for Moise Kean, who scored from an acute angle to make it 1-0. Just like in Strasbourg, SC started the game boldly, but were caught cold by the opponent’s first attack.

The first SC chance came through Merlin Röhl (16′), but the pass to him from Ritsu Doan just skimmed over his foot. Fiorentina now had a more open approach and repeatedly posed problems for the SC defence with their forays forward. In the 17th minute, Domilson Cordeiro dos Santos had too much space in the penalty area and shot from a half-right position. This was an opportunity for Florian Müller to show his worth, which he did, saving the shot with a strong reflex save.

Promising in attack

Freiburg reacted well to going behind, sticking to their attacking style of play. They had the next opportunity through Junior Adamu. The Austrian fired in a low shot from 16 metres, but Fiorentina keeper Pietro Terracciano just managed to get a hand to the ball. Christian Günter and Vincenzo Grifo also had no luck with their attempts (26’). Adamu found a similar result in the 35th minute, heading towards goal from an acute angle, only for the ball to be cleared in front of the onrushing Max Rosenfelder. Four minutes later, Terracciano produced a fast hand to save Adamu’s next good header. “The opening phase was okay, but then Fiorentina’s quality came to the fore,” said coach Julian Schuster later.

SC showed signs of promise in attack during the first 45 minutes, even despite not scoring. Freiburg kept managing to get in front of the opposition goal with fast, fluid moves. The second half began with the same players on the pitch, who immediately went on the offensive again. Rosenfelder came down the right flank at speed, but his low cross was cleared in front of the oncoming teammates (47’). SC took control of the game, combining well through the Italian defensive lines and having several good chances to score. Adamu had his third (53’) and fourth headed chances (62’) and Lucas Höler, who put his header just centimetres wide of the Lilies’ goal (63’), also had the chance to equalise.

Two quick goals for Fiorentina

Shortly after, Adamu came within inches of drawing Freiburg level. The 23-year-old found himself through on goal and faced with only Fiorentina’s goalkeeper, but was unable to beat him one-on-one. Instead, SC then found themselves trailing 2-0 after the visitors were awarded a penalty in the 72nd minute. Rolando Mandragora slotted home from the spot to double their advantage.

Schuster brought on fresh legs in the 73rd minute, with Florent Muslija, Michael Gregoritsch, Noah Weißhaupt, Jordi Makengo and Matthias Ginter all making way. Freiburg struggled to create chances in the moments that followed, with a lack of intensity in their play. The visitors were able to go close once again as the second 45 minutes came to a close, but were denied by Müller.

SC find their way back into the game

With SC trailing by two goals after 90 minutes, Schuster elected to make further changes in order to allow for every player to feature. Jannik Huth replaced Müller in goal, with Kenneth Schmidt, Yann Sturm, Maximilian Philipp, Nicolas Höfler, Bruno Ogbus and Berkay Yilmaz also all coming on. SC then were awarded two free-kicks in quick succession from a similar position 18 metres away from goal. Muslija stepped up to take both, with one hitting the wall and the other going just over the crossbar.

Fiorentina had started to defend deep, allowing SC to take control. Nevertheless, they were still able to test Huth once, forcing him into parrying the ball. Gregoritsch was then able to get off a header for SC that only narrowly missed the goal. As we approached the 30-minute mark in the third period of play, Ogbus won possession and stormed towards goal from midfield. He was only brought to a halt via a foul inside the box, as referee Matthias Jöllenbeck pointed to the spot. Gregoritsch stepped up and kept his nerve from the spot, allowing SC to get a goal back. Another would soon follow, much to the delight of the SC fans that had braved the midsummer heat to be there for the game.

Following a corner that was flicked on inside the box, Philipp found himself in the right place and the right time, tapping home the equaliser from close range. It was a deserved goal, with SC the dominant side for the majority of the match. Günter said afterwards, “We’re pleased with the performance as we did well, especially the lads that got us back into it in the third period.” SC were able to move the ball quickly at times, passing it around and making runs towards goal. Schuster was also pleased with the performance, saying “I would have been happier if we had managed to score earlier on, but it’s a positive sign that we were able to come back after trailing. I have nothing but praise for my team for the way they fought at the end.”

SC Freiburg: Müller (91′. Huth) – Rosenfelder (91′ Schmidt), Lienhart (73′ Ginter/91′ Ogbus), Günter (73′ Makengo) – Doan (91′ Philipp), Osterhage (91′ Höfler), Eggestein (91′ Manzambi), Grifo (91′ Yilmaz)- Höler (73′ Weißhaupt), Adamu (73′ Gregoritsch), Röhl (73′ Muslija)

Substitutes: Huth, Sauter, Schmidt, Weißhaupt, Muslija, Philipp, Höfler, Ginter, Makengo, Gregoritsch, Yilmaz, Ogbus, Manzambi, Sturm, Schopper