Europe League
“A bit of luck”: SC fights for a good starting position
The Freiburg team now want to take the momentum from the European Cup with them into the league. photo
© Harry Langer/dpa
Michael Gregoritsch makes Freiburg cheer. The SC has to tremble in the first leg until the end. The starting position for the decisive duel with West Ham in London has improved.
SC Freiburg’s narrow success in the first leg of the round of 16 According to central defender Manuel Gulde, the Breisgauers “had a bit of luck” in the final phase of the Europa League.
The ball came to his teammate Noah Weißhaupt’s hand in stoppage time after a press strike in the penalty area. However, after reviewing the video images, the referee Alejandro Hernández decided against a penalty. “It was close, I think,” said Gulde after the 1-0 win against West Ham United. “A different referee might give the penalty. It would have been hard to have to accept the equalizer so late.”
His partner Matthias Ginter estimates SC’s chances of reaching the quarter-finals for the first time before the decisive knockout game on March 14th in London at “50:50”. “We know that only one game is over, but we have gained confidence now,” said the defender about the starting situation. “Basically, we’re going there with a narrow lead. Before they were the favorites, now it’s even. But it’s going to be very difficult.”
Substitute Michael Gregoritsch scored the decisive goal for SC in the 81st minute. The Austrian had already scored decisively in extra time in the playoff second leg against RC Lens. “We’re happy that we can add to the game from the bench. It was good for us that the substitutes brought energy to the pitch,” said Ginter.
The Freiburg team now want to take the momentum from the European Cup with them into the league. They have been winless there for six games. However, Ginter expects a big challenge against the strong home team VfL Bochum on Sunday (3:30 p.m./DAZN). “It will of course be a completely different game. VfL got almost three times as many points at home. We already know what to expect. But we won’t worry about it yet.”