SC Freiburg secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Werder Bremen, playing much of the second half with ten men. Jan-Niklas Beste's early strike proved decisive in the tense Bundesliga encounter. Goalkeeper Noah Atubolu delivered a standout performance for the home side.
SC Freiburg entered the match 7th in the table, aiming to solidify their European push. Werder Bremen, languishing in 16th, desperately needed points to escape the relegation zone. Freiburg’s recent form was inconsistent; Bremen struggled more.
Freiburg made a bright start, taking the lead in the 13th minute. Igor Matanović delivered a precise pass from the left wing. Jan-Niklas Beste clinically slotted the ball home, putting the hosts ahead.
After conceding, Bremen responded by asserting more control over possession. They moved the ball well and created several half-chances. Freiburg's defense remained resolute, limiting clear opportunities for the visitors.
Freiburg held a precarious 1-0 lead at halftime. The second half demanded greater resilience from the Black Forest side. Werder Bremen needed to convert possession into genuine scoring threats.
The match turned dramatically in the 52nd minute. Freiburg's J. Manzambi received a red card for roughing, leaving the home side with ten men. Christian Streich reacted swiftly, introducing Yuito Suzuki for Vincenzo Grifo in the 56th minute to shore up defense.
Bremen immediately seized the numerical advantage, pushing forward relentlessly. They piled on shots and corner kicks, testing Noah Atubolu repeatedly. The Freiburg goalkeeper made several crucial saves, denying Bremen an equalizer.
In the 77th minute, Freiburg thought they had doubled their lead. Yuito Suzuki found the net, but VAR disallowed the goal for a foul in the build-up. This kept the score at a nervy 1-0.
Late substitutions followed as both teams pushed their agendas. Yellow cards for Marco Friedl in the 90th minute and J. Schuster in stoppage time highlighted the intense closing moments.
Statistics painted a clear picture of contrasting styles. Werder Bremen dominated possession with 67%, registering 17 total shots, 5 on target, and an xG of 0.83.
Freiburg held only 33% possession, managing 7 shots, 2 on target, and an xG of 0.46. Noah Atubolu’s five vital saves proved the crucial difference.
This gutsy victory propelled SC Freiburg up the Bundesliga table, strengthening their European qualification hopes. For Werder Bremen, it was another disappointing result, leaving them deep in the relegation battle.
