A gift for the coach's anniversary: SC Freiburg is unbeatable in the European Cup

SC Freiburg defeated Czech First Division side FK Jablonec 3-2 in their opening match of the Conference League season at home on October 15, 2026. The victory extended Freiburg’s unbeaten streak this season, marking their continued dominance in European competition. The match took place under the guidance of coach Julian Schuster, who was celebrating a milestone game in his career. Freiburg entered the contest with a revamped squad after eight matches in 25 days, making eight changes to the starting lineup compared to their previous Bundesliga match against Schalke. Despite these adjustments, the team adapted quickly to the new configuration. Freiburg dominated much of the game, scoring three goals through Vincenzo Grifo (15'), an own goal by Dusan Pavlovic (58') confirmed by video review, and Maximilian Eggestein (65'). However, the win was hard-fought, as Freiburg conceded two goals, first through an unfortunate own goal by Matthias Ginter (29') and later a late strike by Garang Kuol (90+3). Coach Schuster expressed disappointment with the defensive lapses, stating during an interview with RTL+ that the opposing team had few chances but scored too many. “We had two phases where we let up slightly,” he said. “These are important details because we want to use these games to improve for the future.” Freiburg’s attacking play was marked by several near misses early in the match. Cyriaque Irié (7') and Lukas Kübler (12') both hit the crossbar, before Grifo converted a stunning free kick into the top corner to open the scoring. The lead was briefly threatened when Ginter accidentally deflected a shot from Rusek into his own net. After halftime, Freiburg continued to press forward, with Jablonec struggling to mount meaningful attacks. A second own goal by Pavlovic followed a corner from Ginter, and Eggestein added a powerful long-range finish to seal the victory. The final moments were tense, with Kuol scoring deep into stoppage time, but Freiburg held on. The result positions Freiburg well ahead of their upcoming Bundesliga clash against Bayer Leverkusen on Sunday, which will be crucial in their bid to maintain their league leadership. Freiburg aims to continue their pursuit of European glory, targeting the Conference League final in Istanbul on June 2, 2027. Freiburg’s performance demonstrated their ability to adapt despite heavy rotation, reinforcing their status as serious contenders in European football.