Freiburg (dpa) – SC Freiburg remained undefeated in the fourth competitive game in a row, but missed another big step towards Champions League qualification. Four days after reaching the DFB Cup final for the first time, Baden played a spectacular game against Borussia Mönchengladbach 3:3 (0:2) in the Bundesliga.
Vincenzo Grifo from the penalty spot (49th minute), Christian Günter (61st) and Philipp Lienhart (80th) scored on Saturday in front of 34,700 spectators for the SC, which remains fifth in the table. Borussia, who haven’t won a Bundesliga game in Freiburg for 20 years, led 2-0 at the break thanks to goals from Rami Bensebaini (3rd, penalty kick) and Breel Embolo (13th) and came back through Joker Lars Stindl (90th minute). +3) late to 3:3.
0: 6 in the first leg in December, 1: 3 in the derby against 1. FC Köln a week ago: Gladbach certainly had something to make up for. “No fight, no will, no character – you are a disgrace to the city and the club!” read a banner attached to the guest block. But the mood among the fans who had traveled with them brightened up again quickly.
Less than 30 seconds were played when Freiburg’s Nicolas Höfler slipped the ball in the penalty area and got his hands on it. According to the video images, referee Benjamin Brand decided on a penalty – Bensebaini confidently converted it into the bottom right corner. A very bitter start for the SC. And it was to come even thicker for him. After a pass from Hofmann, Embolo entered the box from the right and shot past Freiburg keeper Mark Flekken into the near corner.
0:2 after less than a quarter of an hour, but the Badeners were completely unimpressed. Coach Christian Streich’s team, which had to do without his goalscorer Nils Petersen, who was absent due to illness, consistently looked for a way forward. However, what was often lacking in the last third was precision – as with the chances of Vincenzo Grifo (15th) or Roland Sallai (31st). The half-time lead by Borussia, who mainly concentrated on defense and only caused offensive danger again through Embolo (27th), was flattering, at least at this level.
The second half also started turbulently – and again with a penalty kick. Referee Brandt recognized a kick from Gladbach’s Stefan Lainer against Höfler on the screen, Grifo scored from the point to make it 1:2. Shortly afterwards, Freiburg had to get over the substitution of Noah Weißhaupt, who had just arrived and fell on his shoulder in a duel. But they kept the pressure on – and made it 2-2 with a well-placed low shot from Günter from 20 yards out.
In the final phase, the guests tried to get out of their management mode. The SC remained the more active team. After a corner by Günter, Lienhart headed in to make it 3-2. Completely surprising, however, Borussia hit back again through Stindl.
© dpa-infocom, dpa:220422-99-07140/4
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