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Streich: Victory in Gladbach best preparation for Turin

Perhaps the biggest games in the Freiburg club’s history against Juve are approaching, but for SC coach Christian Streich only the game in Gladbach counts. There he can again plan with Captain Christian Günter and also with Ritsu Doan.

Before Juve comes Gladbach: SC coach Christian Streich.

picture alliance/dpa

Around 2,000 fans will support the sports club in the away game at Borussia Park (Saturday, 3:30 p.m.). There will be about as many next Thursday at the Europa League round of 16 in Turin. And as Streich had already guessed, a lot more would like to support their club. The club is said to have received 28,000 ticket requests, most of which had to be disappointed.

As much as the international games electrify the fans, the SC coach initially only wants to concentrate on Gladbach. Turin does not play a role yet. “We still have plenty of time to look forward to it and to prepare,” said Streich. In terms of personnel, things are looking good at the sports club. Ritsu Doan will be back. The Japanese had to be substituted against Leverkusen in the first half because he was unwell. After that he got a fever, but now “he’s healthy again,” explained Streich. And captain Christian Günter, who turned 30 on Tuesday, will return to the left flank after serving a yellow card suspension.

“Losing in Gladbach and being dissatisfied would not be good preparation for Turin,” the SC coach pointed out, “a win gives you self-confidence.” Last season, Freiburg celebrated the biggest win in their Bundesliga history in Gladbach. At 6:0 there were also six different goal scorers. This is all the more remarkable because the Sport-Club had only won once in Gladbach before that, and that was in April 1995. “It was good that we won there, but I never went to Gladbach with a bad feeling,” said prank. “We’ve played a lot of good games there. They were often tight games that we were unlucky to lose or we drew.”

Gladbach dangerous “on the upper edge”.

According to Streich, the fact that Borussia has mostly won against the top teams Bayern, Dortmund and Leipzig this season – which the sports club has not succeeded in doing – shows “that they have great potential: If they get to the top edge, they can do anyone hit”. That should be a warning to Freiburg, after all they are one of the top teams this season. They have the best record in their Bundesliga history: they have never had twelve wins and five draws after 22 match days.

The SC coach also has good memories of the first leg against the Foals because it was “a great game in terms of football and attractiveness”. In which, however, the goals were missing. When it was 0-0, goalkeepers Mark Flekken and Yann Sommer were in top form.

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