Freiburg seal European football with stunning 4-1 win over RB Leipzig
Freiburg have beaten RB Leipzig 4-1 to secure seventh place and UEFA Conference League qualification on the final day of the 2025/26 Bundesliga season. Jan-Niklas Beste (24.), Igor Matanović (26.), Matthias Ginter (47.) and Derry Scherhant (75.) scored for the hosts, with Assan Ouédraogo (33.) pulling one back for Leipzig. A historic and joyous occasion at the Europa-Park-Stadion, ending Freiburg's five-year wait for a final-day victory.
The stakes could hardly have been higher for Freiburg heading into the final day of the 2025/26 Bundesliga season. Julian Schuster's side needed a positive result against RB Leipzig to secure seventh place and a return to European football via UEFA Conference League qualification. Having missed the chance to wrap things up on Matchday 33 following a 3-2 defeat at Hamburg, Freiburg knew their destiny remained in their own hands. Meanwhile, Leipzig — already assured of Champions League football — arrived with ambitions of their own, seeking a record-breaking points tally for the club. Veteran midfielder Nicolas Höfler was set to play his 293rd and final Bundesliga match for Freiburg, while goalkeeper Péter Gulácsi made his first appearance in three months after injury.
Freiburg fly out of the blocks
The match began at a lively pace, with Leipzig's Yan Diomande testing Noah Atubolu as early as the second minute, playing a one-two combination through the Freiburg ranks before shooting too weakly. Freiburg responded with a swift counter-attack, Derry Scherhant driving through the middle before laying off Johan Manzambi, whose shot from distance sailed over. Diomande continued to cause problems down the left, and in the eighth minute he got past Philipp Treu to cross for Christoph Baumgartner, who went down under pressure from Jordy Makengo — but the referee waved away the penalty appeal after consulting VAR. Manzambi fired over again in the 11th minute after good work from Igor Matanović, and Scherhant went close in the 20th minute, shaking off defenders before firing wide.
Beste and Matanović strike in three minutes
The breakthrough arrived in the 24th minute. Matthias Ginter crossed from the right, Matanović played the ball back from the left side of the box, and Ginter's subsequent header struck the crossbar. The rebound fell perfectly for Jan-Niklas Beste, who tapped in from close range with his right foot to open the scoring. Freiburg were not done there. Just two minutes later, Maximilian Eggestein and Manzambi combined to deliver a cross from the right flank, and Matanović arrived at the far post to head home powerfully and make it 2-0. The Europa-Park-Stadion erupted.
Ouédraogo pulls one back
Leipzig refused to capitulate. In the 33rd minute, Diomande drove forward on the left and slipped the ball to Assan Ouédraogo, who feinted a shot with his right foot, shifted the ball to his left and left three Freiburg players for dead before drilling an unstoppable finish low into the bottom-right corner from outside the box. It was a stunning goal to make it 2-1, and Leipzig grew in confidence thereafter, pressing for an equaliser. Diomande tested Atubolu again from a tight angle in the 35th minute, and Conrad Harder forced a fine save from the Freiburg goalkeeper in the 45th minute. Ouédraogo also had a deflected effort saved in injury time, but Freiburg held on to lead 2-1 at the break.
Ginter makes it three
Freiburg came out with intent after the interval. Matanović played in Philipp Treu for a one-on-one opportunity in the 46th minute, but the right-back overran the ball and shot straight at Gulácsi. The third goal arrived almost immediately. In the 47th minute, Beste's corner was headed back into the danger area by Manzambi, two Leipzig defenders missed the ball, and Ginter was on hand to chip a composed finish into the net. It was Ginter's third Bundesliga goal since February, and it gave Freiburg a commanding 3-1 lead. Notably, it was also the first time in 14 competitive meetings that Freiburg had scored more than one goal against Leipzig.
Höfler's farewell and Scherhant seals it
The second half saw a flurry of substitutions from both sides. In the 60th minute, Nicolas Höfler received a standing ovation from the Freiburg faithful as he left the pitch for the final time in the Bundesliga, replaced by Lukas Kübler. Vincenzo Grifo also came on for Beste at the same time. Leipzig made changes of their own, bringing on Ridle Baku and Antonio Nusa in the 63rd minute, but they could not find a way back into the match. The fourth goal came in the 75th minute: Jordy Makengo won the ball at the halfway line, Matanović played a clever lay-off, and Scherhant drove the ball into the top-left corner to seal a historic 4-1 victory. Christoph Baumgartner received a yellow card in the 77th minute for a foul on Lucas Höler. Maximilian Philipp came on late for Matanović to a warm reception, and the final whistle confirmed Freiburg's place in European football next season.
Player of the Match: Igor Matanović
Igor Matanović was the standout performer on a memorable afternoon. The striker scored his 11th Bundesliga goal of the season with a powerful header to make it 2-0, and was involved in six of Freiburg's 10 shots on goal. He contested the most duels of any player on the pitch (28), winning 46 per cent of them, and provided the assist for Scherhant's fourth goal. His relentless work rate and clinical finishing made him the undisputed man of the match, earning 352 fantasy manager points — the highest of any player on the day.
Bundesliga Match Facts
xGoals: Freiburg 2.09 - Leipzig 1.04
Fastest player: Yan Diomande (RBL), 35.46 km/h
Lowest goal probability: 2-1 by Assan Ouédraogo (RBL), 7 percent
Pass efficiency: Maximilian Eggestein (SCF), 12.4
Fantasy Heroes: Igor Matanović (Freiburg, 352 Points), Matthias Ginter (Freiburg, 322 Points), Derry Scherhant (Freiburg, 308 Points)
