Thanks to two converted penalties by Vicenzo Grifo, SC Freiburg won 2-1 against VfB Stuttgart.
Freiburg – SC Freiburg is still in the top flight of the Bundesliga and increases the worries of relegation VfB Stuttgart.
Vincenzo Grifo was the match winner in SC Freiburg’s 2-1 home win over VfB Stuttgart. © Bernd Weissbrod/dpa
In the 2-1 (0-1) home win on Saturday, the Breisgauers turned the game around with two goals from the point without their suspended coach Christian Streich. Chris Führich gave VfB the lead after half an hour before Vincenzo Grifo kept his nerve after two penalties (60’/84′). In each case, the referee Sascha Stegemann only decided on foul after the video referee had spoken.
The Stuttgarters are still in danger of relegation due to the defeat and have not only been waiting for a win abroad since December 11, 2021. Under coach returnee Bruno Labbadia, they have not yet been able to win in five league games.
Instead of Streich, his assistant coach Lars Voßler stood on the sidelines. “He’s a different guy. He can also be emotional, he’s great in terms of content, but overall he’s calmer,” said sports director Jochen Saier in an interview with Sky TV.
VfB clipper Guirassy will probably be out longer: “It doesn’t look so good”
“Lars is great and will be assisted by Julian Schuster. We feel very well positioned with that.”
VfB Stuttgart missed keeper Florian Müller against SC Freiburg for a short time
World Cup driver Borna Sosa (right) celebrated his comeback in the starting eleven and could still be important for VfB Stuttgart. © Bernd Weissbrod/dpa
Daniel-Kofi Kyereh was also missing from Freiburg. The offensive player suffered a cruciate ligament tear in training.
His teammates expressed their sympathy by wearing printed T-shirts with Kyereh’s number and name on them.
But VfB also had to cope with a short-term absence.
Spitting, throwing, mobbing: ugly scenes after the south-west derby
Goalkeeper Florian Müller could not stand between the posts due to stomach problems. He was replaced by Fabian Bredlow, who was allowed to prove himself for the first time after less than half a minute. In the eleventh minute, the goalkeeper reacted quickly in his third appearance of the season.
At first, the guests hardly made an appearance on the offensive. Borna Sosa undertook the first harmless attempts.
The Croatian, third in the World Cup, brought a few crosses into the penalty area within a few minutes on his comeback in the starting XI, but they did not pose a problem for the SC defense team.
Chris Führich puts Stuttgart in the lead, Grifo scores twice
The Stuttgart lead of Chris Führich (left), who celebrates his goal together with Luca Pfeiffer, only lasted until half-time. © Bernd Weissbrod/dpa
Führich did better in the 30th minute when he shot from distance. The 25-year-old had been repeatedly criticized for making wrong decisions in recent weeks. But he hit the right one with his opening goal, Mark Flekken in the Freiburg goal was powerless.
Freiburg were unimpressed by the deficit. Labbadia sensed that his team was coming under more and more pressure. He loudly urged his players to take a more active part in the game again.
But even after the break, Freiburg remained more dangerous. However, Michael Gregoritsch was offside when he supposedly equalized, as the video referee confirmed (51st). A little later, the VAR intervened again.
This time the Breisgauers were awarded a penalty. Grifo converted, despite Bredlow jumping in the right corner, and in the closing stages Grifo had the SC supporters cheering again.
Things got tight again with a free-kick from Sosa, which, however, failed to hit the crossbar.
Statistics on the Bundesliga match between SC Freiburg and VfB Stuttgart
SC Freiburg – VfB Stuttgart 2: 1 (0: 1)
SC Freiburg: Flekken – Kübler, Ginter, Lienhart, Günter – Höfler, M. Eggestein – Doan (90th Petersen), Sallai (69th Höler), Grifo (90th Gulde) – Gregoritsch (75th Jeong)
VfB Stuttgart: Bredlow – Anton, Zagadou, H. Ito, Sosa – Karazor (85. Katompa Mvumpa) – W. Endo, Haraguchi – Dias (68. Perea), L. Pfeiffer (89. Mavropanos), Führich
referee: Sascha Stegemann (Niederkassel) – spectators: 34700
Tore: 0: 1 Führich (30th), 1: 1 Grifo (60th / penalty kick), 2: 1 Grifo (84th / penalty kick)
yellow cards: Höfler (6), Günter (4), Grifo (1) / Karazor (7), Zagadou (2), H. Ito (4)
Best Players: Ginter, Doan / Bredlow, Führich