Series continues: 1:1 between Freiburg and Darmstadt
The winless streaks of SC Freiburg and SV Darmstadt 98 in the Bundesliga continue. At 1:1 (1:1), the Breisgau side missed out on a three-pointer for the fourth time in a row, while the team of returning Torsten Lieberknecht is still waiting one game longer for a winning result.
The coach had recently taken a break for personal reasons. With 15 points, Sport-Club remain in mid-table. Promoted Darmstadt failed to gain any breathing space in the basement of the table.
The visitors, for whom Alexander Brunst came on in place of injured regular goalkeeper Marcel Schuhen and celebrated his Bundesliga debut, took the lead through Mathias Honsak after 18 minutes. Europa League participant Freiburg secured at least a point with Lucas Höler (35'). SC failed to capitalize on their overwhelming superiority.
Especially as the home side initially trailed for the second time this season in front of 34,300 spectators. They conceded five goals in the opening quarter of an hour. They survived this phase against Darmstadt, but shortly afterwards Honsak scored with Darmstadt's first shot on goal. The Austrian benefited from the fact that his compatriot Philipp Lienhart deflected the ball beyond the reach of goalkeeper Noah Atubolu.
Freiburg control the game
Visibly unimpressed by the setback, the home side continued to control the game and searched in vain for a long time for a gap in Freiburg's incessant rain. Michael Gregoritsch's shot (26') was cleared off the line, a little later Ritsu Doan (27') flicked the ball just wide of the goal and Vincenzo Grifo's finish after half an hour also failed to find the net. It was Höler who managed to get the ball over the line. Lienhart and Matthias Ginter, who had also moved up, prepared the way.
Even after the break, the action mostly took place in the Hessians' half. Freiburg coach Christian Streich, however, was still not satisfied. With his arms outstretched, he called for more width in his team's attacking play. However, SC found it difficult to implement this.
Darmstadt themselves only made sporadic appearances in the opposition penalty area, but were then unlucky when the ball merely bounced against Grifo's arm (53') and a penalty was not awarded. The visitors also had to make an injury-related substitution. After a collision, Christoph Zimmermann was stretchered off the pitch. Bartol Franjic came on for him.
Honsak opened the scoring in the closing stages. However, the scorer of the 1:0 was put under decisive pressure by Ginter and narrowly missed. At the other end, Noah Weißhaupt and Maximilian Eggestein were denied by Brunst, who celebrated a decent Bundesliga debut to earn Darmstadt a point.
Despite the 1:1 draw, SC Freiburg's struggle in the Bundesliga persists, as they've failed to secure a victory in their last four matches. Meanwhile, SV Darmstadt 98 remains at the bottom of the table, still seeking their first win.
During the game, SC Freiburg, who were participating in the Europa League, dominated the match but failed to capitalize on their numerous opportunities, including a shot from Michael Gregoritsch being cleared off the line and Vincenzo Grifo's miss after half an hour.
Source: www.dpa.com
