Grifo scores a dream goal
SC Freiburg is shooting its way up the Europa League
October 23, 2025, 10:54 p.m
Against FC Utrecht, an efficient first half was enough for SC Freiburg to secure their second win in the Europa League. This means the Breisgauers jump to fifth place – and can look forward to a threesome for the first time in almost a year.
SC Freiburg continues to cause a sensation in the Europa League. Led by free-kick artist Vincenzo Grifo and the extremely dangerous Yuito Suzuki, the Baden team, who were clearly superior in terms of play, also deservedly defeated the Dutch representative FC Utrecht 2-0 (2-0). Freiburg has now been unbeaten in eight competitive games.
Summer signing Suzuki (20th) with his debut goal for SC and Grifo with a dream goal (45th) set the course for victory early. In the second half, Freiburg switched to administration mode. With now seven points, the SC is firmly in the top group.
Utrecht was waiting for moments of transition, but Freiburg was concentrated in the countermovement. The high SC pressing was always successful and good opportunities inevitably arose. The opening goal resulted from a textbook attack: After a sharp deep pass from Grifo, captain Christian Günter started out on the left and played cleverly into the backcourt, where Suzuki confidently shot in from six meters.
Suzuki scores his debut goal
“It’s great for Yuito,” said SC sports director Jochen Saier on RTL.
Suzuki (26th) had the chance to make it 2-0 with a volley from 16 meters, as did Johan Manzambi: the Swiss’s shot bounced off the bottom edge of the crossbar onto the inside post and back into the field (31st). Grifo aimed more precisely and circled the stationary ball over the wall into the goal from 22 meters.
“We have very good control and a lot of good possession of the ball,” praised Saier at the break. Utrecht, with former Bundesliga striker Sébastian Haller, hardly got into the dangerous areas even after the break. Suzuki (47th) and Maximilian Eggestein (60th) scored higher.
