Grifo Panenka caps Freiburg win over Bremen

Freiburg 2-0 Werder Bremen
Goals: 1-0 Kübler 56’ (assist: Grifo), 2-0 Grifo (pen. 80')
Red card: Friedl (14’)

Killina Sildillia was the Freiburg danger in the opening exchanges, with the German sending one promising effort just wide of the far post. Freiburg’s hopes were helped by an early red card for Marco Friedl, who hauled down Michael Gregoritsch as the last defender. They struggled to capitalise, though, despite sending five shots in on Jiri Pavlenka’s goal, while Mark Flekken watched on untested at the other end of the field. Sildillia was then denied a simple tap-in at the far post by some good covering defending. Bremen continued to hold firm, but having played a good half hour already with only ten men, the second half promised to be a true test of their mettle.

Ole Werner’s men came out fighting and almost took the lead when Anthony Jung scooped the ball over from close range. Freiburg finally made their extra man count before the hour mark, though. A Grifo cross from the left passed man and mouse on its way to Kübler, who was unmarked beyond the far post and steered a curling low volley back into the opposite corner of Pavlenka’s goal. Gregoritsch should have turned the screw midway through the second half with only Pavlenka to beat, but the last line of the Bremen defence deflected the former Augsburg forward’s shot behind with his foot. A foul on Grifo in the area allowed the Italian to double Freiburg’s lead, and he beat Pavlenka with a Panenka-style penalty to secure all three points for the Black Forest club.

• Nils Petersen scored 18 goals in 69 Bundesliga games for Werder before joining Freiburg in 2014.
• Friedl’s red card was the second-quickest dismissal of a Bremen player; Junior Baiano saw red after nine minutes against Kaiserslautern in 1995.
• Kübler’s second goal in as many weeks matches his total number of goals from the past seven seasons combined.
• Grifo took his 15th penalty for Freiburg, converting his 13th - both club records.
• With 39 goals, he is now the most prolific Italian in Bundesliga history.

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Freiburg: Flekken - Sildillia, Ginter, Lienhart (Schlotterbeck 88') – Kübler, Keitel (Doan 46'), Höfler (Eggestein 90'), Günter (c) - Kyereh (Petersen 90'), Gregoritsch, Grifo (Höler 88')
Unused subs: Atubolu, Jeong, Weißhaupt, Schade
Out: Ezekwem (muscular), Gulde (knock), Sallai (eye socket)
Coach: Christian Streich

Bremen: Pavlenka – Pieper, Friedl (c), Buchanan (Chiarodia 88') - Weiser (Agu 66'), Schmid (Burke 76'), Stage (Dinkci 76'), Gruev, Jung - Füllkrug, Ducksch
Unused subs: Zetterer, Salifou, Bittencourt, Goller
Out: Mbom (Achilles), Rapp (thigh), Salifou (groin)
Coach: Ole Werner