SC Freiburg defeats FK Jablonec 3-2 in UEFA Conference League match

SC Freiburg began their UEFA Conference League campaign with a 3-2 victory over FK Jablonec at the Europa-Park Stadion on Thursday. In a match marking his 100th competitive game as head coach, Julian Schuster guided the Bundesliga leaders to a hard-fought win, though the result remained in the balance until the final minutes of stoppage time.

Grifo opens the scoring

Freiburg established dominance early, rattling the woodwork twice within the first 12 minutes through Cyriaque Irié and Lukas Kübler. The breakthrough arrived in the 15th minute when Vincenzo Grifo converted a free kick from 18 meters, curling the ball into the corner to give the hosts a 1-0 lead.

The lead proved short-lived. In the 29th minute, FK Jablonec leveled the score at 1-1 after a shot from Rusek was deflected by Matthias Ginter, leaving goalkeeper Jannik Huth—identified as Backhaus in some initial match reports—with no chance to react. Despite late first-half opportunities for Grifo and Irié, the sides entered the break level.

Video review secures the lead

The decisive moment of the second half occurred in the 54th minute. Following a Freiburg corner, the ball crossed the line off FK Jablonec defender Dusan Pavlovic. The referee, Malcevs from Latvia, consulted the pitch-side monitor to review a potential foul by the home side before ultimately awarding the goal, putting Freiburg ahead 2-1.

Maximilian Eggestein extended the lead to 3-1 in the 65th minute with a powerful strike from distance. While the Bundesliga side appeared in control, the visitors narrowed the gap in the 90th minute plus three, when Garang Kuol scored, bringing the final score to 3-2.

Schuster manages heavy rotation

Facing a schedule of eight matches in 25 days, coach Julian Schuster implemented significant changes to his lineup. Schuster made seven adjustments to the starting XI that defeated Schalke in the domestic league.

“The goals conceded were unnecessary,” Schuster said, noting that the opponent capitalized on limited opportunities. He emphasized that the team intends to use these fixtures to refine details ahead of more challenging encounters.

Looking toward Monaco

The victory keeps Freiburg unbeaten in all competitions this season, providing momentum for their upcoming Bundesliga fixture against Bayer Leverkusen. The club, which reached the Europa League final last season, continues its pursuit of the Conference League title, with the final scheduled to take place in Istanbul on June 2, 2027.

Freiburg’s next match in the Conference League is set for October 22, when the squad travels to face AS Monaco.