SC Freiburg missed the chance to move into third place in the Bundesliga after a disappointing 0-0 draw at home against a strong defensive Mainz 05. Coach Julian Schuster, who had been expected to struggle after taking over from Christian Streich, guided the team through a challenging match where they failed to capitalize on limited opportunities. Freiburg remains in sixth place, while Mainz, who recently suffered a heavy cup defeat, focused on defense. Both teams are set for upcoming matches, with Freiburg facing Union Berlin and Mainz up against Borussia Dortmund.
With a home victory, SC Freiburg could have moved up to third place in the Bundesliga. However, they were left disappointed in their offensive efforts, playing to a 0-0 draw against the defensively strong 1. FSV Mainz 05.
Many experts had predicted a significant decline in SC Freiburg’s performance following the departure of Christian Streich and the appointment of his successor Julian Schuster. Contrary to these expectations, the situation has unfolded differently. Under Schuster, who is a Freiburg legend having played for the club for ten years before spending six years learning the ropes as a coach there, the team has embarked on another successful trajectory.
A home win against Mainz 05 would have propelled Freiburg to third place in the table, setting the stage for the match on Sunday afternoon in front of approximately 30,000 spectators at the Freiburg Arena. Among them were around 2,000 traveling fans from Mainz, who were particularly delighted by the return of Jonathan Burkardt, who had been sidelined due to a muscle injury and started in the lineup.
Mainz’s Defense Poses Challenges for Freiburg
Burkardt’s presence did not alter Mainz’s defensive setup. The visitors presented a solid and aggressive defense, making it difficult for the skillful Freiburg players to gain momentum. It wasn’t until the 26th minute that the first shot on goal was registered, courtesy of Vincenzo Grifo, who attempted a long-range effort.
As the game progressed, Schuster’s expression soured as he repeatedly urged his players to increase their movement in the offensive play. Junior Adamu, in particular, caught the coach’s attention when he made a fantastic run into the center in the 33rd minute, redirecting a pass from Grifo towards the goal with a deft touch off his outside foot. However, FSV goalkeeper Robin Zentner was there to deny Freiburg the opening goal with a strong foot save.
Uneventful Match Between Freiburg and Mainz
The first half concluded with little excitement. Mainz came back for the second half without Burkardt, who was replaced by Armando Sieb. The first moment of tension arose when Dominik Kohr of Mainz had the ball accidentally strike his upper arm inside the penalty area, but referee Benjamin Brand did not point to the spot.
The match remained lethargic. Even Grifo, usually a standout player, was ineffective and was substituted by Schuster in the 66th minute. Shortly before this substitution, Mainz created a tremendous opportunity when Freiburg made a mistake during an offensive play. Nadiem Amiri found space in the box to control the ball and curl a shot towards the far post, but Freiburg’s goalkeeper Noah Atubolu made a fantastic save, deflecting the ball onto the crossbar.
The Match Thrives on Tension
With a lack of flow and scoring opportunities, the final minutes of the match were filled with tension. Mainz, having suffered a 0-4 defeat to Bayern Munich in the DFB-Pokal earlier in the week, adhered firmly to their ‘safety first’ strategy. Freiburg struggled to devise a plan to break down the compact Mainz defense, resulting in a predictable scoreline of 0-0 after a rather challenging 90 minutes of play. Freiburg remained in sixth place in the standings.
Coach Schuster had anticipated such a tough match. ‘The few chances we had, we didn’t take. Against a team like that, scoring a goal helps create space’, was his assessment in a post-match interview. His Mainz counterpart, Bo Henriksen, expressed satisfaction with the performance: ‘The performance today was really good; we were very well prepared’, he stated.
Upcoming Matches: Freiburg in Berlin, Mainz Against Dortmund
Next weekend, SC Freiburg will face Union Berlin (November 8, 20:30), while Mainz 05 will take on Borussia Dortmund (November 9, 15:30).