Freiburg fought back to take a point from Bologna on UEFA Europa League Matchday 2. - © ANDREAS SOLARO

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Freiburg held by Bologna in UEFA Europa League

02.10.2025

Freiburg’s first away trip of the 2025/26 UEFA Europa League ended in a draw, after Junior Adamu's second-half penalty salvaged a draw in Bologna.

Bologna 1-1 Freiburg
Goals: 1-0 Orsolini 29’, 1-1 Adamu 57’ (pen.)

The first big opportunity fell to Freiburg's Johan Manzambi, whose vollied effort was blocked off the line.

Minutes later, Riccardo Orsolini gave the hosts the lead, capitalising on several defensive errors to smash home a close-ranged rebound from a spilled Noah Atubolu save.

However, Freiburg emerged in the second half a completely different team and drew level thanks to a converted spot-kick courtesy of Junior Adamu.

The Black Forest club pushed for a winner, coming the closest through Derry Scherhant and Niklas Beste, who were denied by a stunning double save from Łukasz Skorupski, but ultimately, they had to settle for a point.

Die Breisgauer are back in UEL action when they welcome Dutch outfit Utrecht to the Europa-Park Stadion for their third league phase fixture on 23 October.

See Freiburg's Europa League fixtures here

Recap the action against Bologna below...

1 - 1

(1 - 0)

Bologna

FINAL

Freiburg

Europa League
League phase, Matchday 2 League phase, Matchday 2 Stadio Renato Dall'Ara, Bologna

Full-time: Bologna 1-1 Freiburg

It ends all square in Italy here. Freiburg gave a much improved performance in the second half and deserved their equaliser from the spot courtesy of Adamu. They could have had a winner if not for a stunning double save from Skorupski mid-way through the half, but as such, they'll have to make do with a point as they remain undefeated in their European campaign.

Full-time

90'

+ 3

Substitution

Giovanni Fabbian

Lewis Ferguson

90'

+ 2

Wouldn't drop

Freiburg push into the hosts' box down the right channel through Dinkçi. He fires a low cross into the middle, which Skorupski and Höler nearly latches on to the loose ball, but the goalkeeper recovers to smother it.

90'

Stoppage time

Five additional minutes are indicated.

The goalscorer departs

Adamu leaves the field in the dying embers to be replaced by the big man Matanović. Can his replacement be the one to find a late winner here?

88'

Substitution

Igor Matanović

Junior Adamu

86'

Venomous

Odgaard picks the ball up on the edge of the Freiburg penalty area and immediately lets a powerful shot fly. It stings the palms of Atubolu, who manages to parry it before his defenders clear the danger properly.

84'

Hosts applying pressure

Substitute Rowe is causing problems down Freiburg's right with his close control and dribbling. Most recently, he beat Treu before letting a powerful effort fly, but Lienhart was there to make the block.

80'

Double swap

Schuster goes to the bench with 10 minutes to go, bringing on veterans Höler and Günter for Manzambi and Makengo. Can they help their side to a winner late on here?

80'

Substitution

Lucas Höler

Johan Manzambi

80'

Substitution

Christian Günter

Jordy Makengo

77'

Substitution

Jonathan Rowe

Nicolò Cambiaghi

75'

Fresh legs

Immediately after coming on, Freiburg string a lovely team move together which culminates in Dinkçi being sent into the box. However, his strike lets him down, blasting it over at the near post.

75'

Substitution

Eren Dinkçi

Niklas Beste

74'

Narrowly wide

Odgaard picks up the ball in a pocket of space in the No.10 position. He turns and lets fly, but his shot flies just wide of the left post.

Adamu celebrates

After converting the penalty, Freiburg's No.20 (m.) was keen to get the ball back and for play to resume.

69'

Fantastic double save!

Scherhant is played in behind the Bologna backline. He's one-on-one with Skorupski, but the goalkeeper gets down superbly to his left to deny the winger. He can only parry it into danger, however, and it falls to Beste, who curls an effort towards the opposite corner, but Skorupski is there again to make a blinding double save to keep the scores level.

67'

Holm booked

The full-back becomes the first outfield Bologna player to pick up a yellow card, after he arrived late in on a challenge on Makengo.

67'

Yellow card

Emil Holm

Triple change

Vincenzo Italiano rolls the dice with a triple substitution. Amongst others, the goalscorer Orsolini departs.

66'

Substitution

Federico Bernadeschi

Riccardo Orsolini

66'

Substitution

Juan Miranda

Charalampos Lykogiannis

66'

Substitution

Thijs Dallinga

Santiago Castro

65'

Lienhart booked

The Freiburg defender sees yellow for some pushing and shoving in the box in advance of another corner delivery from Beste.

65'

Yellow card

Philipp Lienhart

64'

Almost in!

From another corner (this time from the right), Freiburg again swarm the goalkeeper, and Beste whips the ball in. It looks as though he's gone for goal, as Skorupski has to tip it over the bar.

63'

Beste delivers

Another corner from the left is fired in by Beste. Once again, he looks for Ginter, but this time Bologna get it away.

61'

Sparked into life

Both sides seem rejuvenated by Adamu's leveller and are playing at a much higher tempo than they were in the first half. Truth be told, Freiburg had started the second half much brighter and are deserving of their equaliser. Scherhant in particular has been a real livewire.

57'

Adamu levels it!

With usual penalty taker Grifo on the bench, Adamu steps up to take it. He stares Skorupski down, sending him diving the wrong way before slotting it into the bottom left corner. 1-1, game on!

57'

Junior Adamu

GOAL!

1:1

Penalty

56'

Skorupski booked

The Bologna goalkeeper picks up a yellow card for his overzealous protests against the awarding of the penalty.

56'

Yellow card

Łukasz Skorupski

56'

He's given it!

The referee goes to the monitor before pointing to the spot. Castro was judged to have handled the ball in the challenge with Ginter.

56'

Penalty!

Taker:

Junior Adamu

54'

How's that stayed out?!

Beste takes the corner. Ginter wins the initial header before it drops to Lienhart inside the six yard box. On the turn, the Austrian fires an effort goalwards, but Skorupski pulls off a remarkable save to deny him. However, there is a VAR check underway for a potential penalty here...

53'

Straight at the keeper

Osterhage breaks between the lines and leads a charge for Freiburg. He lays it off to Scherhant to his left, who is one-on-one with Skorupski, but his effort is straight at the keeper, who tips it behind for a corner.

52'

Beste in behind

The winger makes a great run in behind and is found by a long ball over the top. He brings it down on the left side of the box before trying to drill a cross in towards Adamu. It's blocked behind for a corner, upon which Freiburg don't manage to capitalise.

50'

Great challenge

Cambiaghi looks to be clear down the left flank for the hosts, if not for an incredible recovery challenge courtesy of Treu, who manages to knock the ball back into the winger to win a goal-kick for his side.

48'

First booking

Makengo arrives late in on Orsolini and is shown the first yellow card of the night as a result.

48'

Yellow card

Jordy Makengo

46'

Peeep!

It's the hosts who get us back underway here. Julian Schuster has opted to make a substitution at half-time, bringing on Scherhant for his captain Grifo.

46'

Substitution

Derry Scherhant

Vincenzo Grifo

Kick-off!

Half-time: Bologna 1-0 Freiburg

It's the Italian hosts who head in at the interval with their noses in front, courtesy of Orsolini's instinctive finish. Chances have been hard to come by for both sides, but Freiburg had their best opportunity of the half minutes before falling behind through a well-struck Manzambi volley. However, Julian Schuster will no doubt be demanding more from his team in the second half as they chase the one-goal deficit.

Half-time

45'

+ 1

Stoppage time

One additional minute is indicated.

45'

Frustration building

Some very physical challenges have been put in by the home side towards the end of the half here. Most recently, Odgaard shoved Lienhart, presenting Freiburg with a free-kick. The referee is managing it well, however, and keen to keep his cards in his pocket.

40'

Late pressure

It's been one-way traffic for the past few minutes, and all in the direction of the Bologna goal. Most recently, Eggestein put a teasing ball in from the left to try and find Manzambi in the box, but there were three shirts in sky blue there to clear the danger.

Orsolini celebrates

Freiburg are yet to find a response to the opener from Bologna's No.7. Will Die Breisgauer find a leveller before half-time?

32'

Offside

Freiburg seem to have carved Bologna open. Adamu receives the ball and has Manzambi to his right, and Grifo to his left. He opts to play it to Manzambi, who would be through down the right, but the assistant had his flag raised against Adamu.

29'

Orsolini breaks the deadlock!

It's the hosts who strike first here in Italy. Odgaard's cross from the byline isn't dealt with properly by Freiburg. It falls to Cambiaghi inside the box, who hits a low effort straight at Atubolu. However, there are a sea of legs in front of him, and the Freiburg custodian spills it. Orsolini is there to pounce on the rebound, and smashes it home from six yards to make it 1-0.

29'

Riccardo Orsolini

GOAL!

1:0

Duel to watch

Cambiaghi has been Bologna's most active player so far this half. His opposite number - Treu - has dealt with him well up to now and has posed plenty of his own threat down Freiburg's right.

23'

Huge chance!

This time, Beste takes a Freiburg corner from the right. He finds Eggestein at the near post, who cleverly flicks it on to Manzambi on the penalty spot. Freiburg's No.44 hits a sweet volley, but it's blocked off the line by Castro, before Adamu's follow-up header is tipped over by the goalkeeper for another corner. However, the visitors don't manage to create as much danger from it.

22'

Whipped in by Treu

A central Grifo free-kick is clipped to Treu down the right flank, who whips a delightful ball into the box, finding the head of Lienhart, who heads over.

Travelling fans in fine voice

The Freiburg fans have turned out with flags galore here in Italy and are making their presence known.

18'

Side netting

Orsolini picks out the run of Castro into the box via the right-hand channel. Castro brings the ball under control before letting fly, but his powerful effort lands in the side netting at the near post.

16'

Sigh of relief

Following a long throw-in from Lienhart, which is punched clear by Skorupski, the Freiburg defence find themselves very high up the pitch. They lose the ball and Bologna launch a counter-attack. It looks as though Castro will be through down the left, but Osterhage does well to catch him, forcing him to turn back.

14'

First Grifo corner

Freiburg's set-piece specialist plays an out-swinger from the right. He finds Ginter unmarked at the near post, but the defender gets his connection wrong and sends the ball well wide of the mark.

12'

In by Lykogiannis

After Beste concedes a foul in his own half, Bologna captain Ferguson stands over the set-piece. He dummies, allowing Lykogiannis to whip in a dangerous cross, which Freiburg manage to half deal with. However, Bologna are pulled back after the following cross found the head of a player in an offside position.

10'

Brief stoppage

There's a halt to play whilst the match ball is replaced after Atubolu noticed there was something wrong with the one in play. Play has since resumed.

Effervescent early exchanges

Both sides are really up for this one and are looking to attack whenever they have the ball. It's been a a real end-to-end start to the proceedings.

First corner

Treu challenges Cambiaghi down Freiburg's right, his tackle going behind for the first corner of the game for Bolgona. The out-swinging delivery is a good one, but Makengo is there at the near post to head it away.

Early foul

Cambiaghi is penalised for a challenge by the touchline from within his own half. Grifo takes the subsequent set-piece, whipping in a dangerous ball, which is met by a number of heads before Bologna ultimately manage to clear.

And we're off!

It's the visitors from Freiburg who get the ball rolling here in Bologna.

Kick-off!

Back on home soil

Freiburg's captain, Vincenzo Grifo, has received a warm reception on his return to Italy during the warm-ups.

Pre-match pitch inspection

Philipp Lienhart and the rest of the Freiburg squad have inspected tonight's venue - the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara - and are beginning to start their warm-up routine.

More on that Bologna side

By contrast, Vincenzo Italiano names a much-changed Bolgona line-up, with six alterations made from his side's 2-2 draw with Lecce at the weeekend. Vítik, Lykogiannis, Freuler, Odgaard, Cambiaghi and Castro all come into the starting XI, replacing Heggem, Miranda, Moro, Fabbian, Rowe and Dallinga, all of whom drop to the bench.

More on that Freiburg side

Julian Schuster makes three changes to his starting line-up which drew 1-1 with Hoffenheim at the weekend. Manzambi, Lienhart and Treu all come into the starting XI in place of Dinkçi, Jung (both benched) and Kübler (out due to concussion protocol).

Starting line-up: Freiburg

Freiburg subs

Müller, Huth, Jung, Scherhant, Höler, Suzuki, Dinkçi, Höfler, Günter, Rosenfelder, Ogbus, Matanović

Bologna starting line-up

Skorupski - Holm, Vítik, Lucumi, Lykogiannis - Freuler, Ferguson (c) - Orsolini, Odgaard, Cambiaghi - Castro

Bologna subs

Ravaglia, Pessina, Oobega, Moro, Bernardeschi, Rowe, Heggem, Casale, Zortea, Dallinga, Miranda, Fabbian

Vincenzo Italiano on facing Freiburg

"We analysed the first match they played against Basel as that could be the match that gives us the most insight. They are a very formidable team at home. I don’t know how they will approach the away match, but they have players of excellent technical calibre and are a well-organised team."

Julian Schuster on facing Bologna

"Bologna defend very passionately and man-to-man. They hardly give their opponents any breathing space. And they can switch very quickly."

In the past

This is the second time that Freiburg will face Italian opposition in Europe. The first time they did so was in the 2022/23 season, where they faced Turin giants Juventus in the last 16 of the Europa League (1-0 and 2-0 defeats).

Riccardo Orsolini - Bologna's danger man

Like Grifo for Freiburg, Riccardo Orsolini has been a consistent creative force for Bologna in recent seasons. This term, he's already topping the club scoring charts with three goals in six competitive outings.

Bologna so far

Vincenzo Italiano's Bologna side sit 9th in the Serie A standings this season. They face Freiburg after a four-game run where they have picked up a win just once, losing to Aston Villa in their European opener.

Main man Grifo

As ever, Vincenzo Grifo will lead his side's hopes of continuing a positive run of results. The Italian already has two goals in the league and will be the danger man against Bologna.

0:38

Watch: Schuster on special Europa League

Spoils shared against Hoffenheim

After losing two of the first three games of the season, Julian Schuster's side have put together a four-match unbeaten run in the league and Europe, where they've won three and drawn once - that draw coming at the weekend against Hoffenheim.

Winning start in Europe

Freiburg started their Europa League campaign on a winning note with a 2-1 victory against Swiss giants Basel with goals from Patrick Osterhage and Maximilian Eggestein.