Jeong brace sees Freiburg past Stuttgart

VfB Stuttgart 2-3 Freiburg
Goals: 0-1 Jeong (3'), 0-2 Jeong (9'), 0-3 Höler (28'), 1-3 Mavropanos (45'), 2-3 Al Ghaddiou (45'+2)

Freiburg did the league double over Stuttgart last season, and they were on their way to completing half the job again in this campaign after just three minutes. Christian Günter picked Jeong out in the middle, and he fired a header home from beyond the penalty spot. Jeong completed his maiden Bundesliga brace just six minutes later, with Stuttgart at sixes and sevens. Günter's corner was cleared as far as Jeong to the left side of Stuttgart's penalty area, and he thrashed home a thunderous half-volley. It took 20 minutes for the host to come alive with Mateo Klimowicz forcing a save from Mark Flekken. Just as Stuttgart looked to be settling into the game, however, Freiburg added a third as Lucas Höler powered home a header from close range after an undefendable cross from Roland Sallai. It looked as if Freiburg would head into the half-time break in a comfortable position, but chaos ensued before the end. Konstantinos Mavropanos took matters into his own hands for his first Bundesliga goal to bring Stuttgart back into it, exchanging passes with Hamadi Al Ghaddioui before firing home. The provider then turned scorer as Stuttgart brought the game back to life leading into the second half, with the German forward heading home from Wataru Endo's cross.

Christian Streich made three changes to his Freiburg side during half-time, switching to a three-man defence in the process. Stuttgart started the better of the two sides in the second half, but the first major chance fell Freiburg's way on the counter. Höler found Sallai on the right and his shot forced a fine save from Florian Müller. Mavropanos came off injured just after the hour mark as Stuttgart's injury woes continued. The home side continued to dominate possession in the second half, but Freiburg's tactical switch was keeping them from creating clear-cut chances on goal as the visitors held on to make it two wins on the bounce in the Bundesliga.

• The first-half in Stuttgart was the highest-scoring in the 2021/22 Bundesliga season so far with five goals scored.
• Jeong scored his first Bundesliga brace and the fastest in Freiburg's Bundesliga history, on his 30th Bundesliga appearance, 29 months after debuting for Bayern Munich as an 86th-minute substitute against Borussia Mönchengladbach.
• Mavropanos scored his first Bundesliga goal.
• Müller made 31 Bundesliga appearances for Freiburg last season, conceding 46 goals and keeping six clean sheets.
• Freiburg's 2020/21 league double over Stuttgart marked only Streich's second and third wins in 13 top-flight meetings with VFB (D3, L7). It's now three in a row for him against Stuttgart.
• Last season Freiburg also led 3-0 before the game ended 3-2 after a late Stuttgart fightback.

Watch: Jeong: "I'm really pleased to get two goals"

Stuttgart: Müller – Mavropanos (Ito 61'), Anton, Kempf - Massimo, Klement (Millot 77'), Endo (c), Sosa - Förster (Didavi 70'), Klimowicz - Al Ghaddioui
Unused subs: Bredlow, Stenzel, Karazor, Mola, Coulibaly, Thommy
Out: Ahamada (ankle), Cisse (foot), Egloff (foot), Führich (collarbone), Kalajdzic (shoulder), Karazor (thigh), Mangala (thigh), Sankoh (knee), Silas (unavailable)
Coach: Pellegrino Matarazzo

Freiburg: Flekken - Kübler, Lienhart, N. Schlotterbeck, Günter (c) - Sallai (Schade 81'), Keitel (Gulde 46'), Höfler (Eggestein 46'), Grifo (Haberer 46') - Höler, Jeong (Demirovic 89')
Unused subs: Uphoff, Heintz, Petersen
Out: Burkart (knock), Schmid (not included)
Coach: Christian Streich

Watch: Streich: "I'm so proud of Jeong"