Germany 's last remaining participants in this season's Europa League, Freiburg , played host to Spanish outfit Celta Vigo in the opening leg of their quarter-final tie. The Europa-Park Stadion was a sea of colour as Die Breisgauer set out to extend their best-ever run in European competition.
After navigating their way relatively comfortably through the league phase, Julian Schüster's men gave themselves work to do in the previous round, having tasted defeat to Genk in the first leg in Belgium . Back in front of their home fans, though, they had no issue in romping to a 5-1 victory on the night.
Sitting sixth in LaLiga, the visitors from Galicia are enjoying a successful season of their own and promise a stern test for the hosts. Vigo reached this stage of the competition after overcoming Greek side PAOK in the knockout play-off round, before impressively knocking out Lyon in the round of 16.
Head coach Julian Schüster made three changes to his starting XI following Saturday's late heartache at home to Bayern Munich , bringing in Jordy Makengo , Vincenzo Grifo , and Igor Matanović . Making way were Christian Günter, Derry Scherhant, and Lucas Höler.
The men from the Black Country began the game on the front foot, enjoying nearly three-quarters of the possession. Just ten minutes in, captain Vincenzo Grifo fired his team into the lead with a fabulous strike from outside the box.
That goal kicked Vigo into gear, and they soon began to dominate possession themselves without creating all too much. They would be made to pay for that lack of goal threat just past the half-hour mark when a brilliantly worked Freiburg move came to its conclusion with Igor Matanović cutting back for Jan-Niklas Beste to score into an empty net – the German winger's first-ever goal in European competition.
Again, the goal changed the run of play, and Freiburg began to play with serious freedom, carving open Vigo at will. The best chance to add a third came when Johan Manzambi was played through at an acute angle. The Swiss international did well to get his effort goalwards, but unfortunately for him, the ball rattled the post.
Freiburg enjoyed a completely trouble-free second half as they searched for a third goal to potentially kill off the tie, and with little under 15 minutes to go, Matthias Ginter duly obliged. Towering over the Vigo defenders, the Breisgau native headed home directly from a Beste corner.
With the result on the night all but secured, Vigo squandered a golden opportunity to drag themselves back in the tie. On-loan Wolverhampton Wanderers man Fer López found himself open in Noah Atubolu 's six-yard box but failed to direct his volley goalwards.
Before the 90 minutes were up, substitute Lucas Höler very nearly grabbed a fourth after dinking the ball over the onrushing Ionuț Radu. The Romanian stopper managed to get the slightest of touches, though, to ensure it trickled just wide of the post.
A real team performance and a comprehensive win for Freiburg, who got nothing more than they deserved, and now have one foot in the final four.
Noah Atubolu (7) – Philipp Treu (7), Matthias Ginter (8), Philipp Leinhart (7), Jordy Makengo (6) – Maximilian Eggestein (7), Johan Manzambi (7) – Jan Niklas Beste (8), Yuito Suzuki (6), Vincenzo Grifo (7) – Igor Matanović (8)
Others: Derry Scherhant (7), Lucas Höler (6)
A slightly under-the-radar but superb performance nonetheless from the 23-year-old striker. Leading the line in exemplary fashion throughout, Matanović grabbed himself an excellent assist and was his side's focal point up top.
GGFN | Harry Good
