SC Freiburg suffered its first defeat in the Europa League on the last matchday of the league phase and is still in the round of 16.
SC Freiburg lost the Europa League game at Lille Osc 0-1 (0-0). Substitute Olivier Giroud scored the winning goal for the French with a converted foul penalty in stoppage time (90th + 2).
SC Freiburg started with some changes compared to 2-1 win against 1. FC Köln. Christian Günter, Vincenzo Grifo, Bruno Ogbus, Johan Manzambi and Junior Adamu were new in the starting eleven at the Stade Pierre Mauroy. Igor Matanovic, who was so accurate recently, initially sat on the bench.
The French, who had recently lost five competitive games in a row, started the game with a little more possession of the ball, and the sports club countered with a lot of intensity. Both teams neutralized each other in the first quarter of an hour, with Lille appearing more dangerous.
Freiburg gets the game under control
The home team now put more pressure on, Freiburg were mainly busy with defensive tasks in front of 1,700 traveling fans. In the 21st minute, Ogbus made a quick save from a through ball to Matias Fernandez-Pardo. On the offensive, however, there was a problem; in the first 20 minutes, the Breisgauer team didn’t manage to get a shot on goal. The French were different: Hakon Haraldsson moved towards the penalty area after winning the ball and shot from 23 meters – almost a meter past the right post (23rd).
After around half an hour, the sports club found its way into the game better and was able to gain longer periods of possession. This did not result in a goal threat, but the Freiburg team now had better control of the situation in defense. Consequently, we went into the half-time break with a goalless draw.
Adamu with the first chance
Both teams started the second half without any personnel changes. By chance, Freiburg had an opportunity: Nathan Ngoy’s headed back pass failed, leaving Junior Adamu free. But Ngoy was there in time to correct his mistake (51′).
Now suddenly there was speed in the game. Lille wasted a promising attack, then Yuito Suzuki fed Adamu on the other side, who shot the ball well over the goal from 16 meters (56′). Six minutes later, Lille’s winger Felix was released on the left during a counterattack, but once again the alert Ogbus was there in time. Shortly afterwards the next opportunity for the hosts – and what a chance it was: Fernandez-Pardo was served with a long pass, rushed alone to Noah Atubolu and then failed with a weak lob at the Freiburg keeper (64th).
The Breisgauers now lost a little bit of order, Ngal’ayel Mukau also had a pretty free shot, but finished just as safely (66′). Then Tiago Santos simply shot from distance and forced Atubolu to make a fist save (68′). Freiburg then had to play the last quarter of an hour outnumbered. Maximilian Eggestein hit Fernandez-Pardo above the ankle in a duel and was shown a red card by referee Damian Sylwestrak (74th).
In the final phase it was almost all about defending for the sports club. Lille increased the pressure and introduced former world-class striker Olivier Giroud nine minutes before the final whistle. The now 39-year-old attacker is still very difficult to defend. But Freiburg did a strong job, but still had to accept the 0-1 lead in stoppage time. After a clumsy foul by Cyriaque Irié on Fernandez-Pardo, there was a penalty kick that Giroud hit into the right corner.
Freiburg is challenged in the Bundesliga by VfB
The Freiburg team have a break on the international stage. The round of 16 games and the rest of the knockout rounds will take place on March 12th and 19th. The draw will take place on February 27th, when the winners of the playoff duels will be determined.
In the Bundesliga, the sports club continues with the game against VfB Stuttgart. Three days later, the quarter-finals of the DFB Cup against Hertha BSC are on the agenda.
