SC Freiburg and Borussia Mönchengladbach show a good game in the Bundesliga, but they fail to score.
After a week at the top of the table in the Bundesliga, Freiburg have to vacate the place for 1. FC Union Berlin on the 6th matchday. For Gladbach, the 0-0 on Sunday (September 11, 2022) meant the third draw of the season. With nine points, they are now four behind second-placed Breisgau.
Three days after the successful start of the Europa League group stage with a 2-1 win against Qarabaq Agdam, Freiburg coach Christian Streich made two changes in attack. Michael Gregoritsch and Daniel Kyereh replaced Nils Petersen and Woo-yeong Jeong.
Coach Daniel Farke was forced to make changes for the Gladbachers, who are not taking part in any international competitions this season. Ko Itakura saw the red card in the 0-1 draw against 1. FSV Mainz 05, and Christoph Kramer replaced him in central defence. Julian Weigl, a new signing from Benfica, made his starting XI debut in midfield. Alassane Plea and Nico Elvedi were out due to injuries, Lars Stindl and Marvin Friedrich came in for them.
Neuhaus injured from the pitch
Although it was 0-0 at the break, 33,000 spectators in the stadium saw an attractive game. Both teams had good chances, Gladbach had a slight advantage. In the 14th minute, Marcus Thuram ran alone to goalkeeper Mark Flekken, who not only made a brilliant save in this scene.
It was also annoying for Borussia that Florian Neuhaus had to be substituted with a knee injury (34th minute). Coach Farke said after the game that it looks like a cruciate ligament injury.
Neuhaus was treated a few minutes before being substituted after being involved in a tough duel with Kyereh. The fact that referee Tobias Stieler didn’t give Gladbach a free kick in this scene was surprising, but it fit in with Stieler’s very generous line.
Ginter irons out mistakes
In the second half, too, the guests, who hadn’t won in Freiburg since 2002, had their first good chance. Thuram received a weak pass from Philipp Lienhart in the penalty area, but Matthias Ginter ironed out his colleague’s mistake against his former colleagues.
The level of the game dropped in the second half, but it didn’t get boring. Jeong, who came on as a substitute, prevailed in the Gladbach penalty area and shot from eleven yards, while goalkeeper Yann Sommer, like his opponent Flekken, fended off in flight (76′).
Despite 27 shots on goal (14:13 for Gladbach) it remained 0:0 and both teams only conceded five goals this season.
Freiburg to Piraeus and Sinsheim
SC Freiburg travels to Olympiacos Piraeus in Greece for the second match day of the Europa League group stage (Thursday, September 15, 2022, at 6:45 p.m.). On the 7th matchday of the Bundesliga, the Breisgauers will meet TSG Hoffenheim away in Sinsheim (Sunday, September 18th, 2022, at 7.30 p.m.). The Gladbacher are challenged a day earlier in Leipzig (6.30 p.m.).