Clear EL success against underdog
SC Freiburg improves its goal difference significantly
November 9, 2023, 10:52 p.m
SC Freiburg is not yet completely certain of the knockout round of the Europa League, but the clear success against TSC Backa Topola clearly sets the course for progress. Because the Bundesliga team is also doing something for the goal difference against the Serbs.
The door to the knockout round of the Europa League is open, and the winter in international business is already certain: SC Freiburg is still fully on track with its European mission. With the seriousness recently missed by coach Christian Streich, the Bundesliga soccer team won 5-0 (1-0) against Serbian runner-up TSC Backa Topola on the fourth preliminary round match day.
Thanks to goals from Merlin Röhl (24th), Maximilian Eggestein (56th), Noah Weißhaupt (69th), Junior Adamu (80th) and Ritsu Doan (90th + 2), the sports club now has nine points Account, third place and at least participation in the Conference League after the turn of the year are secured. Against Olympiacos Piraeus on November 30th, Freiburg can, like last year, make it to the knockout round in the Europa League.
“In contrast to the last two home games, we played very disciplined,” said a satisfied Streich on RTL: “It’s nice that we took advantage of a few chances to score. The team played a very good game.”
In the last seven competitive games, including the 3-1 win in Backa Topola two weeks ago, the Breisgau team had always been behind. The defense was more stable again after conceding six goals in two competitive games. Streich had asked his professionals to “work more seriously again” defensively. But after a risky back pass from national player Matthias Ginter (1st) to U21 national goalkeeper Noah Atubolu, the SC almost fell behind again in front of 31,700 spectators.
Weißhaupt and Adamu meet for the first time in the European Cup
After the shocking moment, Freiburg radiated dominance against the guests, who were largely unknown internationally, Lucas Höler (4th) and the recently strong Weißhaupt (5th) tested Veljko Ilic early on. After just nine minutes, Freiburg already had six corners and almost 70 percent possession of the ball. When the 21-year-old Röhl scored his first European Cup goal in his second appearance, the visiting keeper was powerless because the ball bounced strangely due to a mistake.
Afterwards, the spectators also saw one-way street football, Backa Topola had a lot of problems crossing the halfway line. The eye-catching Röhl missed the 2-0 with a shot that hit the post (38th). Nevertheless, the injured Maximilian Philipp was satisfied with his teammates’ performance during the break, “even if there could have been one or two more goals,” he said in an RTL interview.
There was hardly any offensive action from Backa Topola, but that changed after the break. But Atubolu was wide awake when the Serbs first shot on goal (49th). After that, Freiburg dominated the action again, the pressure on Backa Topola increased by the minute – Eggestein’s 2-0 win after a nice one-two with Vincenzo Grifo was well deserved. And Freiburg didn’t let up: After losing the ball in the opponent’s penalty area, Weißhaupt followed up strongly and, like Adamu a little later, rewarded himself with his first European Cup goal.
The people of Freiburg obviously took Streich and Philipp’s words to heart. With new self-confidence, Streich and Co. will now be on Sunday (7.30 p.m./DAZN and in the live ticker at ntv.de) face the DFB Cup winners RB Leipzig in order to get back on track in the league.
The post first appeared on www.n-tv.de
