SC Freiburg secured a crucial 1-0 victory against Trabzonspor in the UEFA Conference League, a win

SC Freiburg secured a crucial 1-0 victory against Trabzonspor in the UEFA Conference League, a win driven by a historic defensive performance from goalkeeper Mio Backhaus. The 22-year-old made multiple critical saves, including two in quick succession against Mohamed Salah, to preserve the lead his team built in the 14th minute.

The win, reported by SPOX.com, marks Freiburg’s third victory in all competitions and puts them back on track in the Conference League after a defeat to AS Monaco. Sueddeutsche Zeitung confirmed that the Breisgauer side won 1-0 (1:0) in Trabzon, noting the significance of the points for their knockout-phase ambitions.

Backhaus the Wall Against Salah

The story of the match belonged to Freiburg’s goalkeeper. Backhaus, who joined the club from Werder Bremen in the summer, made several outstanding saves to keep Trabzonspor at bay. His most important work came against the home team’s captain and star player, 34-year-old Mohamed Salah.

“Mio has today unfassbar gehalten,” Freiburg striker Igor Matanovic said in an interview with RTL, as reported by SPOX.com. The 25-year-old forward then added a line that captured the incredible nature of Backhaus’s performance: “Das konnte selbst der Salah kaum glauben.” Matanovic also acknowledged the collective effort, praising the “Arbeit, das Leid und alles, was wir heute betrieben haben,” according to sportschau.de.

Sportschau.de provided further detail on Backhaus’s heroics, noting that he “stark pariert” a shot from Salah at close range in the 61st minute. The report also mentioned that Salah had a chance to equalize in the 14th minute, shooting from about eleven meters, but he “jagte den Ball… über den Kasten,” as described by Sueddeutsche Zeitung.

Freiburg’s Goal and Team Performance

The decisive goal came early in the match, with Freiburg captain Lukas Kübler finding the net in the 14th minute. SPOX.com described the goal as an “Abstaubertor,” a poacher’s goal, scored after an initial effort by Freiburg. Sportschau.de corroborated the timing and the scorer, stating that in “einer intensiven Partie waren die Breisgauer in der 14. Minute durch ein Abstaubertor von Lukas Kübler in Führung gegangen.”

While Freiburg dominated the first half, scoring one goal and creating chances, the second half was a more defensive battle. “Wir haben eine super erste Halbzeit gemacht,” defender Jordy Makengo told sportschau.de. The 25-year-old admitted the second half “war dann zwar nicht mehr ‘so gut’ gewesen,” but the team’s defensive concentration remained high.

The victory was a complete team effort, as emphasized by head coach Julian Schuster. SPOX.com quoted Schuster saying, “Mio, aber auch die Innenverteidiger und der ganze Verbund – das war eine herausragende Leistung.” The coach also noted the hostile environment, stating with satisfaction, “Wir haben es hier geschafft, dass es mehr Pfiffe gegen das eigene Team gab als gegen uns. Das muss man erstmal hinbekommen.”

A Star Struck by an Idol

For Freiburg defender Jordy Makengo, the game held a unique personal significance. The 25-year-old is a avid FIFA player and had long used Mohamed Salah in his virtual squads. Playing against his idol in a professional match was an unforgettable experience.

“Einfach unglaublich” sei es gewesen, gegen Salah zu spielen, Makengo told sportschau.de. “Ich bin ein großer FIFA-Zocker, ich habe immer mit ihm gespielt,” he explained. “Jetzt spiele ich gegen ihn im echten Leben. Das ist einfach unfassbar.” The report highlighted that Makengo, despite his personal excitement, maintained his focus and helped neutralize Salah’s threat on the pitch.

The Egyptian international, who scored 193 goals in the Premier League during his time at Liverpool, was largely kept quiet by Freiburg’s organized defense. Makengo acknowledged the difficulty of facing him, saying, “Es war nicht so einfach, gegen ihn zu spielen,” but added, “aber ich glaube, wir haben alles gemeinsam gut gemacht.”

What’s Next for Freiburg

This victory is a significant boost for Freiburg, who are competing in both the Bundesliga and the Conference League. The win comes on the heels of a 0-3 loss to AS Monaco and ends a run of three consecutive defeats. “Wir wollten unbedingt eine Reaktion zeigen,” Makengo said, according to sportschau.de. “Jetzt sind wir dran. Wir müssen einfach dran bleiben.”

Freiburg will now look to carry this momentum into their next Bundesliga match, a home game against Union Berlin on November 8th at 17:30 local time. The prospect of facing Union without Salah is unlikely to trouble the Breisgauer side, who have proven they can thrive under pressure.

More on this story: SC Freiburg win 1-0 at Trabzonspor in UEFA Conference League via Kübler

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“Es war nicht so einfach, gegen ihn zu spielen, aber ich glaube, wir haben alles gemeinsam gut gemacht.”

Jordy Makengo, SC Freiburg defender, via sportschau.de

Frequently Asked Questions

Who scored the winning goal for SC Freiburg?

Lukas Kübler scored the decisive goal in the 14th minute.

How did SC Freiburg’s goalkeeper perform?

Mio Backhaus had a standout performance, making several crucial saves, including two against Mohamed Salah, to keep a clean sheet.

What does this win mean for SC Freiburg?

The victory is their third in a row in all competitions, lifting them after a defeat, and is a significant result in their Conference League campaign.

Who is SC Freiburg’s next opponent?

Their next match is in the Bundesliga against Union Berlin at home on November 8th.