Two times, then a goal: Gregoritsch shoots Freiburg to victory in Mainz

SC Freiburg won against 1. FSV Mainz 05 on matchday 13 of the Bundesliga. Striker Michael Gregoritsch was the match winner for Breisgau.

SC Freiburg took three points from Mainz with a rip-off performance on Sunday (December 3rd). Michael Gregoritsch scored the goal of the day in the 70th minute. Mainz 05 put in a lot of effort and had more of the game at the start of both halves, but were inefficient at the end. Thanks to the victory, the sports club climbed to eighth place (18 points). The Rheinhessen (eight points) slipped to the first direct relegation position, 17th.

Mainz 05 with Daniel Batz – Freiburg without Vincenzo Grifo

Daniel Batz made his season debut for the home team; the 32-year-old came in in goal for regular goalkeeper Robin Zentner, who had a finger injury. For Batz, who came from Saarbrücken in the summer, it was the second Bundesliga game of his career.

He celebrated his debut in the upper house in the 2011/2012 season for SC Freiburg – in a 4-0 defeat by Breisgauer at Borussia Dortmund. For reasons of protection, the sports club initially did without its top scorer Vincenzo Grifo (three goals, five assists in the first twelve Bundesliga match days).

Noah Atubolu with a brilliant save against Ludovic Ajorque

Mainz got off to a better start in the game. After a cross from Marco Richter, Ludovic Ajorque headed powerfully towards goal from five meters, but Freiburg goalkeeper Noah Atubolu made a strong save (4th). The Rheinhessen had more of the game at the beginning, Freiburg initially stood very deep and couldn’t cope well with Mainz’s pressing. Richter (11th), Ajorque (17th) and Leandro Barreiro (18th) had further shots, but there was a lack of precision.

Michael Gregoritsch hits the post twice

Freiburg had its first good chance in the 23rd minute. Ritsu Doan moved in from the left side and shot from 18 meters, Batz directed the sharp low shot towards the corner. A little later, the Breisgauers had to change for the first time. Defense chief Matthias Ginter left the field due to nausea, and Manuel Gulde came into the game to replace the 29-year-old.

The sports club was now better at the game. After Kiliann Sildillia shifted to Merlin Röhl, he passed the ball to Gregoritsch. The Austrian hit the post of the Mainz goal from 14 meters (27th).

Turbulent final phase of the first half

The game now became rougher and more intense, but also flattened out. In stoppage time in the first half, Gregoritsch almost made it 0-1, but his header went just past the 05ers’ goal to the right and even hit the outside post (45th + 2). Mainz goalkeeper Batz had previously misjudged a cross from Noah Weißhaupt. Shortly afterwards, the hosts had another header chance following a corner, but Atubolu parried against Sepp van den Berg (45th + 6th). In the end we went into the break with a score of 0-0.

The second half started turbulently. In the 51st minute, Maximilian Eggestein narrowly missed a long throw from Gregoritsch from 16 meters, and Ajorque almost missed the chance to give Mainz the lead. The Frenchman didn’t get any pressure behind the ball after a cross pass from Silvan Widmer, so Atubolu didn’t have any problems (52′).

Mainz 05 is putting pressure on us

As at the beginning of the first half, the 05ers now had more of the game and won the majority of duels. Freiburg was increasingly pushed into its own half. After a corner, Tom Krauß had the next chance for the hosts, but his shot was blocked (58th). In the 61st minute, Atubolu was there to beat van den Berg.

“Home comeback” for Jonny Burkardt

In the 66th minute it got loud in the Mainz Arena because Jonny Burkardt came on as a substitute for Marco Richter and celebrated his “home comeback”. The striker celebrated his return to the Bundesliga the previous week in the 05er’s 1-1 draw in Hoffenheim after a 378-day injury break.

Michael Gregoritsch with his first league goal this season

Shortly afterwards it became quiet in the stadium – except in the Freiburg block, because Gregoritsch put the sports club in the lead with his first league goal of the season. After a long throw-in, which was extended by Lucas Höler, the striker scored, who had already scored three goals in the 5-0 win against Olympiacos Piraeus on Thursdayfrom almost twelve meters into the right corner (70th).

As a result, the SC withdrew and waited for a counterattack. Mainz 05 started running, but it wasn’t compelling. The sports club was no longer faced with too many problems and played the game smoothly. In stoppage time, Roland Sallai almost made it 2-0 for the guests, but the Hungarian was denied by Batz. In return, Nicolas Höfler saved in dire need from his own goal. In the end it was a not undeserved 1-0 win for the guests, who can look forward to the three points thanks to match winner Gregoritsch.

Freiburg has to play away again next week, coach Christian Streich’s team will face VfL Wolfsburg on Saturday (December 9th, 3:30 p.m.). One day later (December 10th, 5:30 p.m.) 1. FSV Mainz 05 travels to 1. FC Köln.