Europe League
Despite the Grifo hat-trick: Freiburg travels to Leverkusen worried
Vincenzo Grifo (l) high-fives Freiburg’s coach Christian Streich (r). photo
© Tom Weller/dpa
Grifo’s hat-trick in the Europa League does not outshine SC Freiburg’s concerns about two injured players. Streich has to find creative solutions for the tasks in the Bundesliga.
Vincenzo Grifo reached for his Hattrick gave him a thumbs up and a few moments later grabbed the match ball as a reminder of what he considered a special evening.
“I packed the ball and I’ll have everyone sign it because I don’t know how often I’ll score a hat-trick in the Europa League,” said Grifo after yesterday’s 3-1 (0-1) win FK TSC Bačka Topola from Serbia in an interview with “RTL+”.
Coach Christian Streich was also pleased that his team could go into the duel with Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen on Sunday (5.30 p.m./DAZN) with another sense of success behind them.
“A relaxed personnel situation turns into a tense one”
However, his joy was dampened. Roland Sallai will probably have to take a break for “three to four weeks” due to a muscle injury, the 58-year-old football teacher said immediately after the final whistle, and Maximilian Philipp was also substituted after falling on his shoulder.
“Something is sticking out, but I don’t know what it is yet,” said the offensive player. Sports director Klemens Hartenbach had already said during the half-time break: “A relaxed personnel situation is becoming a tense one.”
With Michael Gregoritsch and Lucas Höler, two trained attackers came into play. But it was Grifo who turned things around after conceding an early goal. First he was successful from the penalty spot (49th), then ten minutes later he converted a free kick and from the game he completed his hat-trick (73rd).
“National team is a big topic for me”
In the absence of the injured Christian Günter, the Italy international once again shone as a leader and at the same time collected points to represent his country at next year’s European Championships.
“Of course, a stage like this is always nice and the national team is a big topic for me. I want to do everything I can to show myself,” said Grifo, who will stay in Serbia with his teammates for another day and from there directly Leverkusen will travel.