Bundesliga
Freiburg frustrated in Plzeň
Freiburg took another small step towards the UEFA Europa League knockout rounds as they maintained their unbeaten record after five games in a hard-fought draw away at Viktoria Plzeň.
Viktoria Plzeň 0-0 Freiburg
Freiburg started the brighter of the two sides, going close twice in the opening half hour through Junior Adamu and Maximilian Eggestein.
It was Viktoria who netted first, however, as Rafiu Durosinmi rose highest to head home past Noah Atubolu from a corner late on in the first half. But it was disallowed for a foul in the build-up.
Despite a late first-half onslaught from the hosts, Freiburg held firm to keep the scores level at the break.
Julian Schuster made multiple changes early after the restart as his side looked for a breakthrough. Substitute Johan Manzambi came closest midway through the second half, when his close-range volley was parried onto the post by Viktoria's goalkeeper.
Nevertheless, both sides struggled to break down each other's well-organised defences, as it ended honours even in Plzeň.
Freiburg - who next host RB Salzburg on 11 December - stay in the automatic knockout phase qualification places.
>>> See Freiburg's Europa League fixtures and results here!
Recap the action against Plzeň below...
0 - 0(0 - 0)
Plzen
FINAL
Freiburg
90' +6
vs
Milan Havel
Cheick Souaré
90' +3
vs
Scherhant delivers
From the free-kick earned after Doski's foul on Beste, Scherhant fizzes in a cross from the right touchline. It's flicked goalwards from the near post, but it's a comfortable stop for the Viktoria goalkeeper.
90' +1
vs
Merchas Doski
90'
vs
Stoppage time
Four additional minutes have been indicated.
89'
vs
Denis Višinský
Prince Kwabena Adu
83'
vs
Philipp Treu
Christian Günter
83'
vs
Adrian Zeljković
Matěj Valenta
82'
vs
Höfler cautioned
The substitute sees yellow for a late challenge on Ladra.
82'
vs
Nicolas Höfler
81'
vs
Durosinmi!
A promising-looking break sees Ladra move the ball out left to Souaré, who picks out Durosinmi at the far post. Durosinmi connects with the cross on the volley, but Atubolu smothers the attempt.
78'
vs
Clash of heads
Teammates Dweh and Červ collide in mid-air after an aerial challenge. They both stay down and receive treatment, but they're back on their feet and continuing now.
76'
vs
Günter booked
The Freiburg captain impedes Doski about 40 yards from goal, preventing a counter-attack. He is thus shown a yellow card.
75'
vs
Christian Günter
74'
vs
Manzambi!
Best chance of the half for Freiburg. The visitors counterattack very quickly, working it to Manzambi on the right side of the box. He rides a challenge from Doski before hitting a strike on the half-volley, forcing a fantastic save out of Wiegele, who just manages to tip it onto the post and behind for a Freiburg corner. What a chance for the substitution!
70'
vs
Double alteration
Schuster makes his third and fourth substitutions of the match, bringing on Höfler and Manzambi for Suzuki and Eggestein. Can they help Freiburg break the deadlock late on here?
69'
vs
Johan Manzambi
Maximilian Eggestein
69'
vs
Nicolas Höfler
Yuito Suzuki
67'
vs
Hurled in by Lienhart
Freiburg's No.3 has another opportunity to deliver a long throw-in from the left flank. A Viktoria head is first to it, but Suzuki wins the second ball before the hosts clear it properly on their second time of asking.
61'
vs
Another change
Julian Schuster looks to rediscover the dominance his side enjoyed in the opening half hour by bringing on the fresh legs of Scherhant for Grifo.
61'
vs
Derry Scherhant
Vincenzo Grifo
60'
vs
Smashed by Souaré
Viktoria's No.19 picks the ball up about 30 yards from Freiburg's goal. He shifts the ball onto his left foot and has a crack. There's some venom behind the shot and Atubolu wasn't convinced it wasn't creeping in, but it ultimately flies wide.
58'
vs
Memić forces the save
Doski takes the corner short. Viktoria work it to Memić, who plays a one-two on the edge of the box before pulling the trigger. His effort is on target, creeping in at the bottom right corner, but Atubolu gets down well to make a comfortable save.
57'
vs
In by Červ
Viktoria work it well out to the right from where Červ delivers a teasing cross. Ginter, however, is alert to the potential danger and clears it behind for a corner.
53'
vs
On target from Matanović
Osterhage chips a ball in behind for Günter to chase. Freiburg's captain then picks his head up and squares it to Matanović, who manages to steer the cross goalwards, but straight at the Viktoria keeper.
49'
vs
Bend it like Beste
The winger picks the ball up near the halfway line and drives up the right flank before cutting in and shooting with his left. His effort is well struck, but ends up wide left of the mark.
46'
vs
Back underway!
Viktoria get the ball rolling for the second half here. Both managers elect to make changes at the break. Schuster opts for a substitution up top, introducting Matanović for Adamu, whilst Hyský withdraws captain Vydra for Ladra.
46'
vs
Tomáš Ladra
Matěj Vydra
46'
vs
Igor Matanović
Junior Adamu
0 - 0
Kick-off!
0 - 0
Half-time
45' +3
vs
Straight at Atubolu
Doski intercepts a loose pass inside his own half and runs over half the length of the pitch before hitting an effort from the edge of the Freiburg penalty area. It's straight at the visitors' custodian, though.
45' +1
vs
Dweh booked
The Viktoria man is the first to be cautioned this evening after he kicks Osterhage in the face following an attempted bicycle kick.
45'
vs
Sampson Dweh
45'
vs
Stoppage time
Two additional minutes have been indicated.
44'
vs
Adu this time
Viktoria continue their dominance in the late stages of this half. Again, they win the ball back in midfield but this time, they release Adu down the left channel. The forward bears down on goal and aims a low shot towards the far corner, forcing Atubolu into a diving save to tip it round the post.
42'
vs
Vydra!
Atubolu's clearance is pounced upon by Viktoria, who immediately look to counter. Souaré hangs a cross up from the right for Vydra, who heads back across goal from the penalty spot, forcing Atubolu to get down quickly to make an impressive stop.
37'
vs
Another chance for Souaré
After a short corner routine, the ball lands for the left-footer at the edge of the box. His volley is tipped over the crossbar by Atubolu.
36'
vs
Let-off for Lienhart
Near his own penalty area, Lienhart’s clearance hits Günter, and the ball bounces to Souaré. The attacking player sprints into the box and tests Atubolu from a tight angle, but the German keeper is alert to the danger, and parries it behind for a corner from his near post.
39'
vs
Opener chalked off!
Viktoria thought they had the lead! From a corner, Durosinmi rose highest to head past Atubolu from five yards, but the referee pulled it back for a foul on a Freiburg defender in the build-up.
35'
vs
Hosts' first corner
Valenta whips Viktoria's first corner of the game in from the left, aiming for the back post. On the third time of asking, Freiburg get it clear.
32'
vs
Červ from distance
Viktoria work it well up the pitch before finding their No.6 around 25 yards from goal. Under little pressure, Červ lines up the shot, but he slices the effort, sending it wide right of Atubolu's goal.
30'
vs
Beste's delivery
The No.19 curls a corner in from the right towards the near post, but the visitors are first to the ball to head it clear.
27'
vs
Eggestein on the volley
From another Lienhart long throw, Osterhage wins the initial flicked header. The hosts win the next one, but can only head it out as far as Eggestein on the edge of the box, who strikes it on the volley with the outside of his foot. It's well struck and creeping in at the far post, but Wiegele dives to his right to pluck it out of mid-air.
25'
vs
Quick thinking from Adamu
Grifo fakes a pass to the overlapping Günter. Instead, he plays the ball to Adamu inside the box. His marker backs off him, allowing Adamu space to shift it left and to strike with the outside of his right boot. Wiegele reacts well to tip it over the bar, however.
18'
vs
Side netting
Lienhart hurls the ball onto Osterhage’s head, who redirects it to Adamu. He turns inside the six-yard box and takes a shot, which is slightly deflected by Durosinmi, sending the ball flying into the side netting. Freiburg don't manage to make anything of the resultant corner.
20'
vs
Bicycle kick attempt
Following a throw-in from the right, a cross is whipped towards Plzeň captain Vydra, who improvises with an overhead kick at the edge of the box. The forward makes contact with the ball but can only send it well wide of the target.
17'
vs
Beste bends one
This time, Eggestein plays a one-two with Grifo before bursting up the pitch. He tees up Beste on the edge of the box, but the midfielder's effort is blocked by Jemelka.
9'
vs
Not quite
A good counterattacking opportunity opens up for Freiburg after some slick passing from the Breisgauer. First, Suzuki tries to send Adamu clean through, but his pass is too imprecise. Grifo recovers the loose ball and tries to send Günter through down the left flank, but his captain was not on the same wavelength.
7'
vs
In from Grifo
Beste is brought down in the right half-space, not far outside the hosts' penalty area. Grifo takes, whipping a venomous delivery towards the six-yard box, but Wiegele rushes off his line and connects with the punch first to clear it for Plzeň.
5'
vs
Atubolu claims it
A direct move from the hosts culminates in a cross from the right finding Durosinmi on the edge of the six-yard box. The forward gets up well, but he heads the ball up rather than down, allowing Atubolu to make a comfortable stop, much to the keeper's relief.