FC Augsburg – SC Freiburg 2:1 (0:1)
0:1 Grifo (19th/foul penalty), 1:1 Uduokhai (72nd), 2:1 Engels (81st)
The essentials in brief: Only 72 hours after the highly emotional round of 16 in the Europa League, an ultimately weak SC Freiburg suffered a defeat against its favorite opponent FC Augsburg in everyday league play. Coach Christian Streich, weakened by a flu-like infection, saw his team lose 2-1 after a 1-0 half-time lead on Sunday evening.
Defender Felix Uduokhai (72nd minute) and substitute Arne Engels (81st) turned the game around with their goals for FCA, who ran energetically after the break and who jumped to eleventh place in the Bundesliga table with their first home win in 2024 made.
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FC Augsburg – SC Freiburg
02/25/2024 | 19:30 o’clock
Thanks to Sallai and great morale: Freiburg’s victory “for eternity”
So now again against West Ham United. In the round of 16 of the Europa League, SC Freiburg will have a quick reunion with the Premier League club. The Bundesliga team had already played against the English twice in the group phase – and lost twice. This constellation is “somehow stupid,” said SC captain Christian Günter after the draw on Friday in Nyon.
However, the Baden team may be better prepared for the new duels on March 7th and 14th after the memorable crime thriller with an extended length and a happy ending against RC Lens on Thursday evening. It is also thanks to Roland Sallai that Freiburg’s trip to Europe is continuing this season. The 26-year-old’s energetic performance in the second leg of the playoffs was emblematic of the great fighting spirit of the entire team.
Sallai played an “extraordinarily good game,” said coach Christian Streich. After being 2-0 down, the Hungarian literally forced his two goals (67th minute/90th+2) with two deflected shots – and thus also forced extra time. Thanks to Michael Gregoritsch’s third goal (99th), a well-deserved 3-2 win came to the end of a magical night from Freiburg’s perspective. “This is something for eternity,” said Gregoritsch beaming.
It may also be an initial spark for the SC. A lot of things hadn’t been easy for the people of Breisgau in the previous weeks. Injury concerns have been with the club all season. Most recently there were four winless league games in a row – with three goals conceded each. Before the game at FC Augsburg on Sunday (7.30 p.m.), Freiburg are in eighth place in the table. Maybe they’ll get a new boost now.
In any case, this success against Lens was “something very, very extraordinary,” emphasized Streich. Especially since the story of the first half was so “depressing,” said the 58-year-old. After mistakes by goalkeeper Noah Atubolu and defender Manuel Gulde, the SC seemed to be hopelessly behind.
But the hosts’ morale was good – on the pitch and in the stands. “At the start of the second half it was a one-goal game,” said defender Matthias Ginter after his comeback. “Of course the stadium took us too.” The Freiburg team managed the turnaround together.
Coach Streich also praised the players who were not in the starting lineup. They “showed themselves very, very professionally” and after their substitutions, they made a decisive contribution to the team getting “brutal rolling” after the break. Especially Sallai, who was on the pitch from the start, but was almost unstoppable in the second half.
Channeling the national player’s energy in the right direction has been a challenge for Streich many times in recent years. Sallai offends here and there. But he also has exceptional football skills. He has been “in very good shape for weeks,” said Streich about the offensive man. “He is also very disciplined and leaves out a few things that were not good for him and his game.”
When catching up against Lens, Sallai literally carried all his colleagues and SC fans along. Regenerating is important now, he said. Before the next task in Augsburg. And after this memorable European Cup evening.