SC Freiburg meets FC Basel in the Europa League – a derby across national borders. Coach Julian Schuster warns of an old acquaintance from the Bundesliga.
Magic nights against unknown opponents, wide air travel – but for SC Freiburg, the Europe mission starts with a neighborhood duel. Just 72 driving kilometers are between the St Jakob Park of FC Basel and the European Park Stadium of the Breisgauer-it is not closer to the Bundesliga.
SC coach Julian Schuster: “Certain explosiveness”
“For me it is a derby because this is closely available,” said SC coach Julian Schuster before the duel on Wednesday (September 24, 2025, from 9 p.m. in the live ticker and in the audio full report). “This creates a certain explosiveness and makes it totally exciting and interesting.”
Jens-Jörg Rieck, Sportschau Europa & Conference League Live, 24.09.2025 8:58 p.m.
FCB top star Xherdan Shaqiri sees no rivalry
Thousands of Swiss fans will take the short journey across the border for the game on Wednesdaythe European League euphoria of the Freiburg supporters is huge anyway. “You can speak of a game among friends and not of a rivalry,” said FCB top star Xherdan Shaqiri in the “Kicker”: “Basel and the southern Germany are very closely connected. Many Basler also go to Freiburg to see games or even have a season ticket.”
The teams will definitely not make gifts. Freiburg found the way back on track in good time before the international returnAfter two defeats at the start, two victories recently won one after the other. “We are all very, very hot. It was an unfortunate start, but now it is going quite well and we want to take this tailwind with us,” said Goalkeeper Noah Atubolu, who recently set a record with five Bundesliga elf-vertically in series.
“Reward for what we have developed”
The games in the Europa League are “something very special and also reward for what we have developed. It is a great thing, there is always a special atmosphere,” emphasized Schuster. It “had a good time to find the stability and get the points before it starts with the international burden,” said the 40-year-old. The past two successes are now “the bar”.
Sporty “an absolute Challenge”
With RB Salzburg, OSC Lille, Viktoria Pilsen, FC Bologna or Basel, the sports club caught some clubs with Champions League experience in the draw. Therefore, you can stand up to “an absolute challenge” in terms of sport. “To survive the preliminary round and continue to have English weeks early next year, that would be something special,” said Schuster.
In the last two participations in 2022/23 and 2023/24, it was enough for the round of 16. On the way there, however, the “International Derby” should first be obtained – and this must be switched off to Shaqiri. “He is a key figure for this team,” emphasized Schuster: “An offensive free spirit that also gets his freedom in this team. He is very flexible in his positioning, has good degrees and plays great balls. It becomes important not to let him come into play.”
In any case, the Breisgauer can adapt to a hot dance “among friends”.
Prize on Tuesday, 23.9.2025 6:40 p.m., SWR1 Baden-Württemberg
