Bundesliga
Freiburg exit Europe after Juventus defeat
Freiburg's 2022/23 UEFA Europa League adventure ended in a 2-0 home defeat in their last-16 second leg with Juventus.
Freiburg 0-2 Juventus (agg: 0-3)
Goals: 0-1 Vlahovic pen. 45', 0-2 Chiesa 90'+5 (assist: Rabiot)
Sent off: Gulde 43'
Trailing 1-0 from the first leg, Freiburg were snapping at the Juventus heels from the get-go, trying to carve out opportunities to hit the Italians on the break. Ritsu Doan sent a speculative effort off target, with Manuel Locatelli returning fire with a snap-shot at Mark Flekken. Wojciech Szczesny pulled off a double save from Lucas Höler and Matthias Ginter, before VAR intervened at the other end to rule out a Dusan Vlahovic goal for offside. Flekken thwarted Moises Kean in an eventful end to the first half that culminated in Freiburg having a man sent off following a VAR review and Juventus taking the lead. Manuel Gulde was the culprit after collecting a second bookable offence for handball, and Vlahovic squeezed the resultant penalty under Flekken’s legs.
Freiburg admirably stuck to their task, albeit without seriously testing a well-drilled Juventus outfit for anywhere near long enough to threaten a comeback. Their best chance fell just short of the hour mark when Michael Gregoritsch forced Szczesny into a sprawling save following a goalmouth scramble. Juventus didn’t have much more joy in an attacking sense, their risk-averse approach producing only one opening of note in normal time as Flekken denied Kean. Freiburg substitute Vincenzo Grifo - a Germany-born Italy international - teased a grandstand finale with a shot that Szczesny did well to keep out. Federico Chiesa added a second Juve goal in added time as Die Breisgauer exited the competition in front of an appreciative 34,000-capacity crowd at the Europa-Park Stadion.
Match stats
- Freiburg were competing in the Europa League proper for the second time in their history.
- The Black Forest club enjoyed their deepest run in UEFA competition, having previously gone as far as the third round (last 32) of the now defunct UEFA Cup - the Europa League's precursor - in 2001/02.
- Christian Streich's team were unbeaten in the group stage (W4, D2).
- It was only the second time in 24 home matches in all competitions that Freiburg failed to score.
- Grifo is an eight-time Italy international, but has played his club football exclusively in Germany.
- Juve's Filip Kostic made 249 Bundesliga appearances across spells with Hamburg, VfB Stuttgart and Eintracht Frankfurt.
Teams
Freiburg: Flekken - Kübler, Ginter, Gulde - Sildillia, Eggestein (Schmidt 46'), Höfler, Günter (c) (Weißhaupt 74') - Doan (Sallai 62'), Gregoritsch (Petersen 74'), Höler (Grifo 62')
Unused subs: Uphoff, Atubolu, Schmid, Keitel, Jeong, Röhl
Out: Kyereh (cruciate ligament), Lienhart (thigh)
Coach: Christian Streich
Juventus: Szczesny - Danilo (c), Bremer, Gatti - Cuadrado (De Sciglio 84'), Fagioli, Locatelli (Barrenechea 84'), Rabiot, Kostic (Iling-Junior 70') - Kean (Soule 90'+1), Vlahovic (Chiesa 70')
Unused subs: Pinsoglio, Perin, Moretti, Di Maria, Rugani, Paredes, Compagnon
Out: Alex Sandro (leg), Milik (thigh), Pogba (disciplinary)
Coach: Massimilano Allegri
As it happened
0 - 2(0 - 0)
Freiburg
FINAL
Juventus
vs
Freiburg out of Europe
Chiesa adds a late goal to seal a 3-0 aggregate win. Freiburg put in a brave display, but Juve's quality told over the two legs.
89'
vs
Grifo!
A shot from a tight angle, but the keeper is equal to it. That would have blown the roof off!
89'
vs
Added time
Five minutes for Freiburg to find the two goals needed to force extra time...
80'
vs
Sighter
Sallai winds up after Grifo's corner is cleared, but the Freiburg sub can't find the target. That sums up Freiburg's performance.
84'
vs
Enzo Barrenechea
Manuel Locatelli
84'
vs
Mattia De Sciglio
Juan Cuadrado
74'
vs
All-out attack
Positive from Streich as Weißhaupt - a winger - replaces full-back Günter. Petersen - the Bundesliga's record substitute goalscorer - is Gregoritsch's replacement in the centre-forward role.
74'
vs
Nils Petersen
Michael Gregoritsch
74'
vs
Noah Weißhaupt
Christian Günter
70'
vs
Fresh legs
Freiburg will have to watch out for the pace of Chiesa as they push even harder for a goal in the closing stages. Ex-Bundesliga man Kostic follows Vlahovic off, with English teenager Iling-Junior also on.
70'
vs
Samuel Iling-Junior
Filip Kostic
70'
vs
Federico Chiesa
Dusan Vlahovic
68'
vs
Juve in charge
Juventus have looked very comfortable since taking the lead on the night. They're passing the ball around with ease.
62s
vs
Watch: Grifo's set-piece prowess
Grifo's not a traditional winger, but the Italy international is Freiburg's 14-goal top scorer this season and a dab hand from set pieces.
62'
vs
Double change
Sallai's on for Doan in a like-for-like change on the right-hand side of the attack. Grifo provides the fresh legs on the opposite flank, with Höler hooked.
62'
vs
Vincenzo Grifo
Lucas Höler
62'
vs
Roland Sallai
Ritsu Dōan
57'
vs
Chance!
Freiburg get the ball into the box this time, with Höler testing the goalkeeper from close range. Gregoritsch goes to ground in the ensuing scramble, but it's not a penalty.
55'
vs
At arm's length
Plenty of indutrious as we've come to expect from Streich's team, but they're barely laying a glove on the visitors.
50'
vs
Gregor-hit!
Worth a crack from Gregoritsch, who wins and arrows a free-kick wide from 30 yards. The home fans appeciated that!
46'
vs
In at the deep end
Kenneth Schmidt, 20, makes his competitive debut for Freiburg. Eggestein is the man sacrificed as Streich tries to plug the Gulde-sized hole at the back.
46'
vs
Kenneth Schmidt
Maximilian Eggestein
0 - 0
Kick-off!
vs
An even attacking game
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26'
vs
Manuel Gulde
vs
Half-time: Freiburg 0-1 Juventus (agg: 0-2)
Freiburg players understandably not happy as they head off down the tunnel at the Europa-Park Stadion. They'll need a huge second half with 10 men to turn this around.
0 - 0
Half-time
45'
vs
Added time
Three additional minutes at the end of the first half.
44'
vs
Juve lead
So so unfortunate (again) for Freiburg. It's not a good penalty from Vlahovic, low and central. Flekken gets his legs to it but the ball goes under the diving goalkeeper and in.
44'
vs
Penalty Juventus
The referee does indeed reverse his decision and decides that Gulde blocked with his hand. Where his hand is meant to go when sliding is anyone's guess. The defender is also shown a second yellow and is off.
44'
vs
Manuel Gulde
43'
vs
VAR check
But now the referee has been called over to the monitor to make a decision about how Gulde made the block.
42'
vs
Flekken and Ginter!
Two chances in quick succession from the hosts. Kean races away down the left and is in behind, but can't beat Flekken, who sorts his feet quickly. But the visitors recycle the ball and it's Gatti the centre-back who pops up in the box. His shot takes a deflection off Gulde, which allows Ginter to clear off the line.
35'
vs
Denied!
Kübler stands up to Vlahovic and does well to get a foot in on the eventual shot at goal. Freiburg need to ride this mini storm...
30'
vs
Half chance!
Freiburg go straight back on the attack as Gatti gets in the way of Günter's goal-bound strike. This one's starting to open up...
29'
vs
Disallowed goal
Flekken repels Bremer's header, with Vlahovic reacting fastest to turn in Kean's pass - but it won't count. There's an offside against the Juve forward, confirmed following consultation with the VAR. Let-off for Freiburg!
27'
vs
Dead-ball prowess
Freiburg will see set pieces as a possible route back into this. They've scored a Bundesliga-high 16 goals from set plays so far this season...
23'
vs
Chances!
Höler goes for goal from a tight angle, but Szczesny is able to block it behind. Ginter meets the ensuing corner, again testing the reflexes of the Juventus goalkeeper. Bremer then gets in the way of Gregoritsch's follow-up effort.
22'
vs
Tale of the tape
Midway through the first half, Juventus are seeing more of the ball with 62 percent possession, but have done very little with it in an attacking sense.
16'
vs
Warning shot!
Locatelli sends a snap-shot from outside the box goalwards, drawing a routine stop from Flekken. Just a reminder from Juventus that they have capable players all over the pitch.
15'
vs
Quick transitions
Juventus can't get a hold on Freiburg's aggressive press. Whenever they lose possession, you can sense the panic as Streich's side try to turn defence into attack.
10'
vs
Positive
Really encouraging signs from Freiburg. There's a real bite about their game so far.
6'
vs
Go-an, go-an, go-an!
Father Ted reference, anyone? Ritsu Doan takes aim from distance after spotting Szczesny off his line. He has the keeper in retreat, but the shot drops wide.
5'
vs
Tetchy
A few niggling fouls in the opening exchanges. Juventus will not want to fall behind and have to chase the game on Freiburg soil.
1'
vs
Under way!
Possibly the biggest night in Freiburg's history - can they turn the tie around? The hosts are all in red...
0 - 0
Kick-off!
vs
Full house!
The South Stand has been rocking for a good while now, but it'll be a capacity crowd of 34,000 at the Europa-Park Stadion come kick-off.
First-leg report
Freiburg were narrowly beaten 1-0 by Juventus in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League last 16 tie, meaning their hopes of progression to the quarter-finals are still alive.
Juventus 1-0 Freiburg
Goals: 1-0 Di Maria 53' (assist: Kostic)
The trip to Turin was, arguably, the biggest night in Freiburg's history - never before have they been so deep into a European competition and, despite the hosts' difficulties in Serie A (they sit seventh in the Italian top flight), they remain one of European football's biggest fish, boasting talents such as World Cup winner Angel Di Maria and former Eintracht Frankfurt star Filip Kostic. Throughout the first half, Christian Streich's starting XI looked to stay compact and, for the most part, they did an excellent job of reducing their opponents' threat, even if they were occasionally put under significant pressure. Mark Flekken needed to be alert to deny Adrien Rabiot in the 13th minute and made further saves from Juan Cuadrado - twice - and Dusan Vlahovic, while Gleison Bremer headed over from close range before Manuel Locatelli curled an effort wide of the post. Die Breisgau-Brasilianer struggled to make much of an impact at the other end, but they generally looked composed in possession, and a clean sheet at the interval gave them plenty to build on in the second half.
After the break, the Old Lady continued to push forward in search of the opener, and they had it in the 53rd minute. Di Maria is not known for his aerial ability, but his bullet header from a pin-point Kostic cross was the first effort to beat Flekken between the Freiburg posts all night, leaving the German outfit with plenty to do. Shortly before the hour mark, the visitors looked to have restored parity when Lucas Höler fired past Wojciech Szczesny on the turn with a well-taken effort, but the goal was ultimately chalked off following a visit to the pitchside monitor for referee Tasos Sidiropoulos due to Matthias Ginter's handball in the build-up. Now trailing, Freiburg increased their intensity, pressing high whenever Juve had the ball in their own third, while Streich introduced Ritsu Doan from the substitutes' bench to give his team extra impetus. However, although Vincenzo Grifo flashed a free-kick narrowly over the crossbar, the 2022 DFB Cup finalists did not create enough to truly worry Juventus' backline or goalkeeper. Still, the slender deficit gives Freiburg hope of turning things around at the Europa-Park Stadion next week.