Shooting festival at the start of the European Cup season: SC Freiburg clinched their first win in just 105 seconds on the first day of the Bundesliga match thanks to a double strike.
At FC Augsburg, Christian Streich’s team won 4-0 (0-0) after a strong second half, spoiling the new FCA coach Enrico Maaßen’s Bundesliga debut. The goals for Freiburg were scored by former Augsburg player Michael Gregoritsch (46′), Vincenzo Grifo (48′), returnee Matthias Ginter (61′) and Ritsu Doan (78′).
In front of 26,310 spectators in the Augsburg Arena, the Europa League participant from Breisgau celebrated a well-deserved victory. Although Augsburg always tried to implement Maaßen’s game system, they were only able to counteract the sporting superiority of the sports club at times.
Streich made two changes compared to the first round of the cup at Kaiserslautern (2:1 aet). Killian Sildilla and Roland Sallai were new in the starting lineup, Gregoritsch, who came from Augsburg in the summer, started in the center of the attack – as did Ermedin Demirovic, who switched in the other direction for FCA.
Grifo is Freiburg’s asset
Both teams were looking for a way forward from the start. Freiburg in particular tried to press early, but the Augsburgers were usually able to free themselves well and thus caused pinpricks again and again. Two shots from Caligiuri (4th, 11th) rushed just over the bar.
After a brief interruption (22′), during which referee Bastian Dankert had to be treated after a collision with Christian Günter, Freiburg increasingly took control of the game and had two good chances through Grifo (29′) and Christian Günter (33′). Grifo in particular turned out to be an asset during this phase and kept driving his team forward.
Augsburg shocked after Freiburg’s dream start
In the second half, Freiburg made a real rocket start. First Gregoritsch headed a cross from Sildilla into the far corner, which was untenable for Augsburg keeper Rafal Gikiewicz. Just 105 seconds later, Grifo pulled a free kick from the right half field perfectly into the left corner.
Augsburg obviously found it difficult to get back into the game afterwards. SC Freiburg, on the other hand, managed to continue to profit from their superiority and create opportunities.
Augsburg to Leverkusen, Freiburg to Dortmund
Augsburg travels to Leverkusen on the 2nd matchday on Saturday (13.08.2022), Freiburg plays against Dortmund on Friday.