Thomas Reis didn’t rest easy on his players during the analysis, just like the overpowering opponent SC Freiburg before on the pitch. “We weren’t equal in any way today,” said the FC Schalke 04 coach after the 0:4 (0:2) swatter at Baden.
“Thank God it only went out at high altitude.” For the first time in more than half a year, Schalke could have climbed out of the Bundesliga relegation zone. But they didn’t know how to use the blunders of the competition – and remain penultimate in the table with five games to go.
The defeats of Hoffenheim (1: 3 against Cologne) and Hertha BSC (2: 4 against Bremen) the day before should have given his team “a boost” and made them “hungrier”, said Schalke captain Danny Latza. “We didn’t succeed. We have to clearly question why.” Coach Reis analyzed that duels that had been won in the furious 5-2 win against Hertha in Berlin a week earlier were lost in Freiburg. The defeat hurts. But she shouldn’t overthrow the royal blues in the relegation battle.
Freiburg fans are hoping for the Champions League
With his goals in the 7th and 35th minutes, the Austrian national striker Michael Gregoritsch paved the way for Freiburg to take the next step towards the Champions League. Lucas Höler (52nd) and Matthias Ginter (82nd) followed suit in the second half. The sports club remains a top team in the league and can continue to hope for the first time in the premier class. “Off, on, off to the Champions League” sang the fans after the well-deserved home win. Coach Christian Streich had tears in his eyes.
“It was a great game. We’re satisfied,” said Freiburg’s Gregoritsch after his Bundesliga goals 49 and 50. His colleague Vincenzo Grifo spoke of a “great team performance”. The Breisgauers have only lost at home this season to title contenders Borussia Dortmund and FC Bayern Munich. That’s one of the reasons why they are well on the way to playing internationally again next season.
Schalke, on the other hand, is threatened with a direct return to the second division – also because they are incredibly weak away from home. They have only won one of their last 42 league games away from home. Midfielder Latza found that there was a lack of penetrating power up front against Freiburg. “Hardly any chances to score” you had. Not to say: none. At least not mandatory.
Doppelpacker Gregoritsch
The hosts, on the other hand, were right in the game – and Gregoritsch, who had returned to the starting XI after an ankle problem, was involved in almost every dangerous action in the first half. After just six minutes he forced ex-Freiburger Alexander Schwolow, who replaced the injured Ralf Fährmann in the Schalke goal, to make a strong save. Shortly afterwards, after a fine pass from Ritsu Doan, he thoughtfully put it into the left corner.
Grifo could have made it 2-0 after less than a quarter of an hour and also after good preliminary work by the Japanese Doan, but only hit the left post. Schalke keeper Schwolow prevented a debacle in front of the eyes of former national coaches Joachim Löw and Jürgen Klinsmann in the stands, but also conceded a shot through the legs at 0: 3 by Höler. Ginter made sure of the final score. Freiburg stays on course Europe, for Schalke there was a sensitive setback instead of the hoped-for liberation.
