Bundesliga
Freiburg topple Utrecht
Freiburg continued their unbeaten start to the 2025/26 UEFA Europa League campaign by beating Utrecht 2-0 at the Europa-Park Stadion on Thursday night.
Freiburg 2-0 Utrecht
Goals: 1-0 Suzuki 20' (assist: Günter), 2-0 Grifo 45'
Freiburg started as they meant to go on, having almost all of the ball and making the visitors work hard to keep them at bay. The Utrecht defence appeared to be doing their job well, until a Christian Günter burst down the left flank ended with him finding Yuito Suzuki with a cut-back cross, which the Japanese midfielder gladly slammed home for his first goal in the club’s colours.
Vincenzo Grifo then struck a hammer blow just as it looked like Utrecht were gaining a foothold in the game, whipping a delightful free-kick past the Utrecht keeper moments before the break.
The hosts made a fast start to the second half, almost immediately grabbing a third through that man Suzuki again. Utrecht survived on that occasion, but it served as a sign of things to come.
Maximilian Eggestein then went desperately close to netting their third after creating some space for himself a matter of yards out from goal, but could only find the head of keeper Vasilis Barkas with his shot.
Despite continuous Utrecht pressure in the final 20 minutes, Julian Schuster’s men held firm to continue their unbeaten start to the Europa League campaign. The Black Forest outfit are next in action on the continent on 6 November when they travel over the border to face Nice in France.
>>> See Freiburg's Europa League fixtures here
Recap the match action against Utrecht below...
2 - 0(2 - 0)
Freiburg
FINAL
Utrecht
88'
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Derry Murkin
90' +1
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Three additional minutes
Freiburg will have to wait a bit longer until victory is confirmed.
88'
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Clean sheet?
Can Freiburg hold Utrecht at bay until the final whistle, or will the visitors find a way through late on?
84'
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In the nick of time
A dangerous ball in behind the Freiburg defence has Rodriguez racing toward goal and Atubolu coming out to meet him. Ginter is the one that clears the danger eventually, arriving just in time to save his 'keeper the work.
80'
vs
Lively closing stages
Despite both teams ringing the changes the tempo has not changed. Utrecht are upping their efforts for a goal, while the hosts sense an opportunity for a third.
77'
vs
Derry Murkin
Adrian Blake
77'
vs
David Min
Sebastien Haller
75'
vs
Max Rosenfelder
Yuito Suzuki
75'
vs
Derry Scherhant
Vincenzo Grifo
71'
vs
Visitors keep pushing
They're not letting up in their efforts to halve the deficit and are increasing their corner count, but Freiburg are standing firm.
67'
vs
Davy Van den Berg
Can Bozdoğan
66'
vs
Dani de Wit
Gjivai Zechiel
66'
vs
Nicolas Höfler
Johan Manzambi
66'
vs
Igor Matanović
Junior Adamu
65'
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Haller on the stretch
A cross from the right floats over the Freiburg defence and onto the outstretched foot of Haller, but he can't direct the finished and sees it loop over.
63'
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Missed chance!
El Karouani cuts back for Rodriguez in the centre of the box but the winger's effort is tame and straight at Atubolu.
60'
vs
Zidane Iqbal
Alonzo Engwanda
59'
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Eggestein with a chance!
He fashions a shooting chance from close range with some neat footwork before firing straight at the 'keeper. It should have been three!
57'
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Coming into the game
The visitors are having more joy in the final third in recent minutes, and could become even more of a threat if Freiburg don't regain control.
56'
vs
Blake fires over
The Utrecht wing drives at the heart of the Freiburg defence before shooting from just outside the area, but he can't keep his effort down.
52'
vs
Eren Dinkçi
Niklas Beste
52'
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Dinkçi enters
Beste is unable to continue, and heads down the tunnel as Dinkçi replaces him.
48'
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Great chance!
Suzuki breaks away from midfield and charges toward goal, before shooting toward the far corner of the net from the left-hand side of the box. Barkas saves, and Utrecht survive.
46'
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We're back!
The action is back underway.
0 - 0
Kick-off!
0 - 0
Half-time
41'
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Corner for Utrecht
The visitors continue their search for an equaliser, but aren't able to find it via a corner which is cleared by a Freiburg head.
39'
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Game opening up
The visitors have found their attacking spark, upping the tempo of the game. Freiburg are still looking for another goal, too.
35'
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Freiburg counter
The hosts launch a counter from that corner, and win one of their own at the other end! It ends with a free-kick for the opposition, however, after Manzambi committed a foul on Barkas.
35'
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Visitors finally threaten
A cross from the left almost finds Bozdoğan at the far post, but it's bundled out for an Utrecht corner, which comes to nothing.
31'
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Brilliant from Manzambi!
He weaves his way past a couple of opposing defenders on the right side of the box before firing the ball against the crossbar on the far side of the goal, almost scoring a sublime solo effort!
26'
vs
Suzuki goes close
He latches onto a bouncing ball on the edge of the area and lashes a half-volley goalward, stinging the palms of the 'keeper.
25'
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Breathing space
The hosts can breathe a sigh of relief after that goal, with the visitors looking difficult to break down intially.
18'
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Günter delivers
The left-back whips in a dangerous low cross, but Van der Hoorn is there again to clear.
16'
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Stubborn defence
For all of Freiburg's effort, they've struggled to create any openings as of yet and have been limited to shots from distance.
12'
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Hosts probing
Freiburg are dominating possession, with Utrecht struggling to break into the opposing half so far.
8'
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Eggestein from distance
The midfielder finds himself in space in a central position and lets fly, but his shot is straight at the 'keeper.
7'
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Barkas collects
The Utrecht 'keeper claims the following corner, briefly relieving the pressure on his side.
6'
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Corner for Freiburg
Grifo swings in an inviting free-kick from the right which requires Van der Hoorn to head out for a corner.
2'
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Treu blazes over
A long throw from Lienhart is cleared only as far as the full-back, who gets right underneath the bouncing ball, sending it into the stands.
1'
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Kick-off!
After a slight delay, we're off and running!
0 - 0
Kick-off!
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Freiburg starting lineup
Atubolu - Treu, Ginter, Lienhart, Günter (c) - Eggestein - Beste, Suzuki, Manzambi, Grifo - Adamu
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Freiburg subs
Huth, Jung, Scherhant, Höler, Kübler, Dinkçi, Philipp, Höfler, Matanović, Makengo, Rosenfelder, Ogbus
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Utrecht starting lineup
Barkas - Horemans, Van der Hoorn, Viergever (c), El Karouani - Engwanda, Zechiel, Bozdoğan - Rodriguez, Blake, Haller
vs
Utrecht subs
Brouwer, Gadellaa, Finnsson, Van den Berg, Min, Cathline, Iqbal, De Wit, Jonathans, Didden, Eerdhuijzen, Murkin
58s
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Watch: Freiburg 2-2 Frankfurt - highlights
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Welcome!
Welcome along to live coverage of Freiburg's third match in the league phase of the 2025/26 UEFA Europa League at home to Dutch side Utrecht on Thursday.