Freiburg (dpa) – SC Freiburg is ready for the next highlight against Juventus Turin in the Europa League. The people of Breisgau underlined this in the 2-1 (1-0) home win against the new bottom of the Bundesliga soccer team TSG 1899 Hoffenheim. Coach Christian Streich’s team has been struggling in front of the opposing goal for weeks now compared to the first phase of the season before the World Cup break. But the result is still satisfactory thanks to Ritsu Doan’s late winner on Sunday.
That’s another reason why striker Michael Gregoritsch wants to keep the recent criticism as small as possible and prefer to focus on the second leg against the old lady from Italy on Thursday (6.45 p.m.). “We now have 45 points and we’re just talking about how few chances we create,” said the Austrian. That’s true. “But we are in the table where other teams would like to be.” But that doesn’t just apply to the Bundesliga table. Because last year’s finalist is still involved in the DFB Cup and in the round of 16 of the Europa League anyway.
After the mandatory task against Hoffenheim, Gregoritsch and Co. dream of progressing on the European stage. And after the close 1-0 defeat in the first leg, Freiburg still have every chance. “It’s the first time for almost everyone to play against such a team at home,” said Gregoritsch.
According to his own statement, his coach never thought about the second leg against Turin before the Hoffenheim game. This is going to change. Especially since Streich is worried about his regular central defenders. Philipp Lienhart had to leave the field early in the game in Turin due to a thigh injury and was absent against Hoffenheim. He could return as the injury is said to be non-structural. National player Matthias Ginter also held his thigh in the state duel. “I don’t think it’s that bad. It was a blow,” Streich carefully gave the all-clear. “We have to wait until the adrenaline is out of the body.”
The good news: Manuel Gulde would also be ready for the highlight against Turin. The recently seldom used defender proved that against TSG.
© dpa-infocom, dpa:230312-99-924183/7
