Suzuki & Weiper initiate victories
©IMAGO
SC Freiburg remains unbeaten in the Europa League and is on course towards the knockout phase. In the Conference League, FSV Mainz 05 maintained its impeccable record.
Freiburg beat FC Utrecht 2-0 (2-0) and remained undefeated in the eighth competitive game in a row. New signing Yuito Suzuki (20th minute) and another free kick goal from Vincenzo Grifo (45th) ensured the deserved success. The Dutch, led by former BVB professional Sébastien Haller, suffered their third defeat and are stuck deep in the bottom of the table in the league phase.
Against the eighth-placed team in the Dutch Eredivisie, the Breisgauers controlled the game from the start. The low-lying opponent initially made it difficult for the sports club to create chances. As the game progressed, the hosts gained an increasingly clear advantage.
After 20 minutes, coach Julian Schuster’s team successfully overturned the visitors’ defense for the first time. Grifo played a long ball from his own half to Christian Günter, who passed it perfectly from the baseline to Suzuki. The newcomer easily put the ball into the goal from close range. However, there were hardly any chances for the guests throughout the game.
The Dutch also had a hard time with former Dortmund player Haller in the starting line-up. They tried high balls to the massive attacker, but he was usually alone against two or three Freiburg players. Instead, Johan Manzambi (31′) almost made it 2-0, but his shot hit the aluminum. Grifo did better a little later and sank a free kick – almost exactly like he did in the 2-2 draw against Frankfurt on Sunday.
The SC only allowed themselves a short period of rest from the middle of the second round, when they withdrew and wanted to defend the result with defensive stability. So the guests got more of the game, but they couldn’t really pose a threat to Freiburg. After 78 minutes it was over for Haller, who remained goalless for his new employer.
Henriksen rotates vigorously – Mainz continues to win in Europe
In the first real European Cup home game in almost ten years, FSV Mainz 05 maintained its impeccable record in the Conference League. Bo Henriksen’s team defeated the previous league leaders HSK Zrinjski Mostar 1-0 (1-0) in the evening and already have six points in their account after two match days.
Talented striker Nelson Weiper decided the game in front of 30,200 spectators with his early opening goal (24th minute). Guest professional Igor Savic (37th) was shown a red card before the break after a serious foul and made things even more difficult for his team.
Nelson Weiper scored 1-0 for FSV Mainz
Henriksen had called up almost a complete B team for the game. The coach replaced nine professionals compared to the turbulent 3:4 against Bayer Leverkusen – so the Mainz team initially had more quality on the bench than on the pitch.
For Mainz it was the first home game in a European Cup main round in 3,241 days. Before the game against Bosnia’s record champions Mostar, the Conference League qualification against Rosenborg Trondheim had already taken place. The carnival club’s supporters had previously had to wait since December 2016. At that time, only around 12,000 spectators saw the 2-0 win over FK Qabala.
This time Mainz’s victory should have been higher. Weiper’s lead after an assist from Ben Bobzien brought stability to the revamped team – but the host missed far too many chances on offense. Sota Kawasaki (4th) and William Boving (7th) made a narrow miss in the early stages, but later it became dangerous, especially from set pieces. In the final phase (82nd) Robin Zentner parried a dangerous free kick. Mainz now have more points from two European Cup games than from seven appearances in the Bundesliga (four).
Given the manageable quality of many opponents, the rotation model could become a model for Henriksen to rest his stars around Nadiem Amiri. On the first matchday, Mainz won 1-0 at Omonia Nicosia in Cyprus. The Conference League continues on November 6th. Then the 05ers will meet Italy’s co-favorites AC Fiorentina again at home.