Minimalism Meets Triumph: SC Freiburg’s Winning Streak
SC Freiburg has embarked on a remarkable journey, showcasing the power of minimalism and efficiency. The club has secured three consecutive 1-0 victories, a historic first for the team. However, head coach Julian Schuster remains cautious ahead of their home match against SV Werder Bremen on Friday evening.
A Balancing Act: Avoiding Complacency
"This streak doesn’t guarantee a similar outcome tomorrow," Schuster warned. "The danger of victories is that focus in certain areas might wane." He emphasized that he had addressed this issue during training this week, aiming to maintain their high standards of performance.
Continued Reliance on Top Scorers
Freiburg also triumphed 1-0 in the first leg against Bremen, courtesy of a goal from Ritsu Doan assisted by Vincenzo Grifo. The upcoming match will likely see these two top scorers play pivotal roles once again as the team looks to extend its winning streak and bolster its position among the contenders for international spots.
Wing Wonders: Outshining the Strikers
Grifo and Doan have proven to be far more prolific than the team’s strikers and other midfielders. They have each notched six goals and seven (Grifo) and five (Doan) assists. Notably, Grifo has missed all three penalties he has taken this season.
"We still have plenty of players who step up with conviction – including Vince," Schuster said. "And we have developed a pool of players to support them."
Penalty Woes: A Collective Responsibility
Freiburg has endured a total of four missed penalties this season, with Lucas Höler also contributing to this negative trend. Both Höler and Junior Adamu have managed only two goals each, with both coming in the form of braces. Michael Gregoritsch has a solitary goal to his name, while former Bremen player Eren Dinkci is still awaiting his first strike for SC. The summer signing has recorded only three assists so far.
Defensive Struggles Amidst Attacking Profligacy
Despite their goal-scoring prowess, Freiburg has also conceded a significant number of goals, especially against top teams. Ironically, this has led to the team occupying fifth place in the league standings with a goal difference of -7, while Bremen sits in tenth place with the same goal difference.
"We score a goal every time we play, and that’s a positive," Schuster countered. "And if we score one more than our opponents, that’s not a bad thing."
Historical Precedents and Optimism
Since the introduction of the three-point system, only two teams with such a poor goal difference have finished so high in the table: Freiburg itself (2016/17 season) and Kaiserslautern (1999/00 season).
Freiburg’s success story remains a testament to their ability to make the most of their limited resources and capitalize on their strengths. The upcoming match against Werder Bremen will be a crucial test of their resilience and determination to maintain their momentum in the race for European qualification.
