Bundesliga
Gregoritsch gives Freiburg the edge over West Ham
Substitute Michael Gregoritsch scored the only goal as Freiburg beat West Ham 1-0 in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League last-16 tie.
Freiburg 1-0 West Ham
Goals: 1-0 Gregoritsch 81' (assist: Sallai)
Freiburg had finished second to West Ham in the group stage, before winning a dramatic play-off against Lens to reach the knockout rounds. The hero of that tie, Roland Sallai, very nearly gave his team the lead inside the opening 60 seconds, but his goal-bound effort was blocked by Vladimír Coufal. Freiburg continued to set the tempo, with Sallai pulling the strings. The Hungary international set up a promising opening for Lucas Höler with 31 minutes gone, but the Freiburg forward could not find a way past Łukasz Fabiański in the West Ham goal. The visitors responded in kind, with Jarrod Bowen crashing a volley wide.
Freiburg were unlucky not to go ahead early in the second half as Fabiański stopped a deflected Sallai scissor-kick from creeping in. That sparked a wave of West Ham pressure, with Konstantinos Mavropanos heading against the crossbar from a corner and Lucas Paquetá failing to turn Mohammed Kudus's teasing cross into the six-yard box on target. Noah Atubolu kept out well-struck efforts from James Ward-Prowse and Bowen, who miscued from close range soon after. It proved a costly miss as Gregoritsch pounced at the other end to convert Sallai's cross-shot and give Freiburg the edge heading into the second leg in London on 14 March.
Match stats
- Freiburg are playing in UEFA competition for the sixth time.
- Gregortisch scored his fifth Europa League goal of the season.
- Sallai produced his first assist in this season's competition, adding to his four goals in the previous rounds.
- Christian Streich oversaw his 478th competitive game as Freiburg coach.
- Mavropanos made 80 Bundelsiga appearances as a VfB Stuttgart player and also represented Nuremberg in the German second division.
- These two sides met earlier in the campaign, with West Ham the first - and only - English club to have played Freiburg. The Hammers edged both Group A encounters - winning 2-1 in Germany and 2-0 in London - and are the only team to defeat Freiburg in the Europa League this term.
Teams
Freiburg: Atubolu - Sildillia (Kübler 82'), Ginter, Gulde, Günter (c) - Eggestein, Höfler - Dōan (Muslija 82'), Sallai (Röhl 88'), Grifo (Weißhaupt 70') - Höler (Gregoritsch 70')
Unused subs: Müller, Uphoff, Szalai, Keitel, Adamu, Philipp, Makengo
Out: Kyereh (knee), Lienhart (groin), Schmidt (abdominals)
Coach: Christian Streich
West Ham: Fabiański - Coufal, Mavropanos, Zouma (c), Emerson (Cresswell 68') - Ãlvarez - Ward-Prowse (Phillips 81'), Souček, Paquetá (Antonio 90'+1) - Bowen, Kudus
Unused subs: Areola, Anang, Johnson, Ings, Ogbonna, Earthy, Casey, Mubama, Orford
Out: Cornet (hamstring)
Coach: David Moyes
As it happened!
1 - 0(0 - 0)
Freiburg
FINAL
West Ham
90' +6
vs
VAR check over
The VAR check is complete and there is no decision against Freiburg.
90' +6
vs
VAR check
Noah Weißhaupt blocks a Kalvin Phillips shot inside the box, possibly with an arm above his head. There will be a VAR check.
90' +4
vs
Last chances
Mavropanos and Bowen both send a couple of efforts off target in the closing seconds. Freiburg are almost there.
90' +1
vs
Antonio
Paquetá
89'
vs
Added time
There will be four minutes of time added on at the Europa-Park Stadion.
88'
vs
Merlin Röhl
Roland Sallai
84'
vs
Gregoritsch's hot streak
Incidentally, Michael Gregoritsch now has five goals in seven Europa League games to add to his four Bundesliga strikes this term.
82'
vs
Freiburg changes
Quick as you like after the goal, Freiburg have introduced Muslija and Kübler as they look to see this one out.
82'
vs
Lukas Kübler
Kiliann Sildillia
81'
vs
Florent Muslija
Ritsu Dōan
81'
vs
Phillips
Ward-Prowse
81'
vs
Freiburg in front!
Would you believe it!? Freiburg have only gone and taken the lead against the run of play and it's that man Michael Gregoritsch - Mr. Super Sub - who has scored. The Austrian has the simplest of tasks to slot home from close range from Sallai's cross-shot across the face!
78'
vs
No let up
Bowen just fails to convert a centre from Cresswell as Freiburg survive one more scare.
76'
vs
Atubolu alert again
Tomáš Souček tees up James Ward-Prowse, whose shot from the edge of the area is saved by Noah Atubolu.
73'
vs
Gregoritsch introduction
Gregoritsch is straight into the thick of the action but the Austrian forward's effort is easily dealt with by Fabiański.
71'
vs
Freiburg subs
Weißhaupt and Gregoritsch have been thrown into the mix by coach Streich as he attempts to wrestle back control of this first leg.
70'
vs
Noah Weißhaupt
Vincenzo Grifo
70'
vs
Michael Gregoritsch
Lucas Höler
69'
vs
Ward-Prowse set-piece
James Ward-Prowse sends a free kick wide of the target and Freiburg boss Christian Streich has seen enough as he prepares to make changes.
68'
vs
Cresswell
Emerson
65'
vs
Atubolu earning his keep
Another big stop from Atubolu to deny Bowen, who almost found the left corner of the goal with a smart shot.
64'
vs
West Ham come again
This is a very dangerous spell from the Premier League side and Bowen is the latest player to have a go at goal, his curling effort well saved by Atubolu between the Freiburg posts.
62'
vs
Visitors almost score
It doesn't get much closer than that. Paquetá meets Kudus's cross from the left but can only head over the top from inside the six-yard box.
60'
vs
Grifo off target
Vincenzo Grifo smashes a long-range effort over the crossbar.
58'
vs
Paquetá booked
Lucas Paquetá is shown a yellow card for a foul on Ritsu Dōan.
58'
vs
Paquetá
54'
vs
Visitors hit the woodwork
Mavropanos connects with Ward-Prowse's corner and heads against the outside of the post.
52'
vs
Dōan saves Freiburg
Bowen's cross to the back stick is edged out by Ritsu Dōan with Paquetá prowling.
50'
vs
Sallai warned
Sallai is booked for protesting to the referee.
50'
vs
Roland Sallai
48'
vs
So close Sallai!
Roland Sallai connects with a scissor-kick and the ball hits Souček before Fabiański makes a last-gasp save on the line.
46'
vs
Peeeep!
We're back underway in the second half in Freiburg.
45'
vs
Half-time: Freiburg 0-0 West Ham
The hosts have edged this first leg so far and have created the game's best openings but it remains scoreless at the break.
40'
vs
Sildillia sees yellow
Freiburg full-back Sildillia is booked for a foul on Álvarez.
39'
vs
Kiliann Sildillia
34'
vs
Play on
Dōan appears to go down under a challenge from Mavropanos inside the West Ham area. Nothing doing, says the referee.
32'
vs
West Ham respond
Back up the other end and Bowen volleys wide after connecting with a Kudus centre. All of a sudden, it's end-to-end.
31'
vs
Freiburg come to life
The game bursts into life with Sallai feeding Höler, who shoots left-footed and looks on as Fabiański makes a save. Big moment for the hosts.
30'
vs
Tense encounter
Both sides look a little fearful of making an error that could lead to a big chance. There's not been much give in the contest between two compact teams.
23'
vs
Kudus off target
Mohammed Kudus has a pop at the Freiburg goal but the Ghana international's shot is wayward.
19'
vs
Eggestein sighter
Maximilian Eggestein slams a free kick from distance over the crossbar and the Freiburg fans applaud their team's attempts to edge ahead in this first leg.
16'
vs
Atubolu alert
Atubolu saves handily enough from Bowen's speculative effort.
12'
vs
Dōan menacing
Ritsu Dōan engineers some space for himself before letting fly at goal from the edge of the area. Álvarez makes a block.
10'
vs
Home comforts
Freiburg have had 79 per cent possession thus far, with two chances to West Ham's none.
7'
vs
Even contest
Both sides are doing their best to settle into their respective shapes here. It's been an even opening at the Europa-Park Stadion, that early Freiburg chance aside.
3'
vs
Solid beginning
There's been a very lively start to this European encounter with both sides bringing plenty of intensity.
1'
vs
Almost an opener !
Straight from the off Sallai almost gives the hosts the earliest of lead only for Coufal to deny the Freiburg No.22.
vs
More on those teams
Freiburg are unchanged from the 2-2 draw against Bayern, with Christian Günter and Vincenzo Grifo among the starters. West Ham show one change, though, with Łukasz Fabiański starting in goal as he has throughout the London club's 2023/24 Europa League campaign.