Opportunity Awaits in Leipzig
As the New Year kicks off, SC Freiburg remains competitive in three major tournaments. The team is gearing up for the DFB-Pokal quarterfinal match against Hertha BSC in February. In the Europa League, just two matches before the end of the group stage, Freiburg holds an unbeaten fifth position. In the domestic league, Freiburg has firmly established itself in the upper half of the table with 23 points after 16 games.
Head coach Julian Schuster expresses optimism about the team’s future. “The training ground is quite busy; we have many options. This gives me confidence for the upcoming challenges,” he stated, reflecting on the squad’s potential. The new year started positively for Freiburg, overcoming a 0-1 deficit to win 2-1 against a depleted Hamburger team. Despite the tense moments during eleven minutes of injury time, the victory showcased the team’s resilience.
Upcoming Challenge in Leipzig
As Freiburg prepares for its next match, the team faces a historically challenging trip to Leipzig, where they have struggled in past encounters. In ten previous visits, Freiburg has managed only three draws and is still searching for their first victory against last year’s seventh-place team.
Understanding the Opponent
Freiburg is aware of Leipzig’s strengths, particularly their effective space utilization and strong pressing game. Schuster highlighted, “They play well between the lines and use their wide players effectively. Their intense counter-pressing could push us back at times, and we need to withstand that.”
Moreover, the team needs to capitalize on their possession to discover good solutions in the game. Notably, SC Freiburg will face an additional challenge with the absence of defender Philipp Lienhart, who will miss several weeks due to a muscle injury sustained during the match against Hamburg.
