The keys to SC Freiburg’s dream start
For the first time since Matchday 1 of the 2000/01 season, SC Freiburg sit atop the Bundesliga standings. Here’s the latest from the quiet club in the Black Forest.
In what was nearly unimaginable only a few years ago, the Breisgau club lead the Bundesliga through Matchday 5. Manager Chrstian Streich is yet again working his magic at the precious 100%, democratic member controlled club. Let’s start with their defense.
Matthias Ginter is back in form and a major reason why Freiburg have kept three clean sheets in five matches. Paired with one of the more underrated defenders in the league, partner-in-crime Philipp Lienhart, Ginter provides a huge sense of stability and calmness at the back.
As seen in the first half against Leverkusen on Matchday 5, Freiburg are at their best with this pairing. Streich started center-back Manuel Gulde to begin the contest with a back three. But when Gulde was taken off, Freiburg transitioned into their usual 4-2-3-1 and scored three goals to steal a win away from home.
Nothing to see here.
— Giorgio Dusi (@Gio_Dusi) September 4, 2022
Just Nico Schlotterbeck supporting his boyhood club SC Freiburg in the BayArena in the stands with the away fans. pic.twitter.com/9yfAoE16oP
With another offseason of savvy business, it’s fair to say that Freiburg have a deeper squad compared to last season. Ritsu Doan is exactly the type of speedster they needed on the right wing and fellow newcomer Michael Gregoritsch is unguardable in the air. The Breisgau club were even able to hold onto Kevin Schade, one of the most promising young attackers in Europe, who’s set to make his return to the pitch in the coming weeks.
Offensively, Freiburg are the team you’d least like to face on a set-piece. Clubs still have nightmares trying to stop Vincenzo Grifo’s link-up play with Christian Gunter, who now joins 20-year-old Kiliann Sildillia to form a very physical wing-back partnership.
But, the most difficult stretch in recent memory is now upon Freiburg. The start of the Europa League group stage makes September challenging, but October is really when their headaches begin. With the addition of a second round DFB-Pokal match, Freiburg will play nine games during a four week stretch.
If Mark Flekken never had that lapse of concentration in their sole loss against BVB on Matchday 2, they would probably be outright leaders in the Bundesliga. With this surprise start to the campaign, Freiburg have bought themselves some wiggle room in league play. European football awaits where they will be forced to heavily rotate their squad in order to keep everyone healthy.
Through all of this, when discussing his team’s outrageous start, the message from Streich continues to stay the same:
“It is important to keep SC Freiburg in the Bundesliga.”