Hamburg – Igor Matanović, the 22-year-ancient forward, delivered a decisive performance, scoring both goals in SC Freiburg’s 2-1 away victory over FC St. Pauli in a tightly contested Bundesliga match on Saturday. The win provides a boost for Freiburg’s European aspirations, while deepening the relegation concerns for the Hamburg-based club.
The match, played in front of a sold-out crowd of 29,546 at the Millerntor-Stadion, saw St. Pauli take the lead through Danel Sinani in the 24th minute. However, Matanović turned the tide in the second half, finding the back of the net in the 65th and 79th minutes to secure the three points for Freiburg.
The atmosphere at the Millerntor was electric, with over 1,000 St. Pauli fans greeting the team bus with flares and fireworks, demonstrating their passionate support amidst a crucial relegation battle. That energy clearly translated to the pitch in the first half, as St. Pauli dominated possession and created several scoring opportunities.
Mathias Rasmussen and Joel Chima Fujita both came close to opening the scoring for the hosts, with Fujita nearly setting up Sinani before the eventual goal. Sinani’s strike, coming from a corner, rewarded St. Pauli’s strong start and sent the home fans into raptures.
Despite facing a determined St. Pauli side, Freiburg remained resolute. Manager Julian Schuster opted to field the same starting eleven that secured a remarkable 5-1 victory over Genk in the Europa League round of 16 second leg just days prior, demonstrating faith in his players’ fitness and ability to handle the quick turnaround.
Freiburg had opportunities of their own in the first half, with Niklas Beste and Vincenzo Grifo, playing in his 300th Bundesliga match, both testing St. Pauli goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj. Yuito Suzuki also had a chance late in the half, but was denied by a well-timed block.
Schuster made tactical adjustments at halftime, bringing on Cyriaque Irié for Beste and Philipp Lienhart for Bruno Ogbus. These changes injected fresh energy into Freiburg’s attack and allowed them to gain a foothold in the game. Vasilj was increasingly called into action, denying Matanović and Matthias Ginter in quick succession.
The breakthrough finally came in the 65th minute when Matanović expertly redirected a shot from Grifo past Vasilj, leveling the score. A subsequent Freiburg goal, scored by Irié, was initially ruled valid but then overturned by VAR, adding to the drama. However, Matanović wasn’t to be denied, securing the win with his second goal of the match in the 79th minute.
The result leaves St. Pauli in a precarious position, still searching for crucial points to climb out of the relegation zone. Freiburg, meanwhile, continue to push for European qualification, building on their impressive Europa League run. Their third away win of the Bundesliga season provides a significant boost to their chances.
Igor Matanović’s performance was particularly noteworthy, given his history with St. Pauli. The 22-year-old came through the youth ranks at FC St. Pauli before moving to Eintracht Frankfurt in 2021, spending two seasons on loan with his former club. He then had a loan spell at Karlsruher SC, scoring 16 goals in 32 appearances, before joining SC Freiburg in July 2025. His move to Freiburg was announced on July 9, 2025.
Matanović has also begun to establish himself on the international stage, earning five caps and scoring one goal for the Croatia national team since making his debut in September 2024. He was born in Hamburg, Germany, and represents Croatia internationally.
Freiburg will now turn their attention to their upcoming Europa League quarter-final match, while St. Pauli face a crucial battle to avoid relegation. The pressure is mounting on the Hamburg club as they seem to secure their Bundesliga status.
What’s Next: SC Freiburg will continue their Europa League campaign, with details to be announced by UEFA. FC St. Pauli will face a critical match against [Opponent to be determined] in their fight to avoid relegation.
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