Freiburg vs. Jablonec: UEFA Conference League live blog and preview

Unbeaten Bundesliga leaders Freiburg open their UEFA Conference League campaign at home to Czechia's Jablonec on Thursday (kick-off: 9pm CEST).

Keisuke Gotō's late winner against Schalke on Matchday 5 helped Julian Schuster's charges leapfrog Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich into top spot in Germany's top flight. It was Freiburg's seventh win in eight competitive fixtures this season - a run which includes back-to-back victories over Scottish club Motherwell in the Conference League play-off round.

Currently fifth in Czechia's top division, Jablonec defeated another club from Scotland - Rangers - to reach this stage of the competition. They were eliminated in the group stage on their last appearance in 2021/22, finishing third in a section containing AZ Alkmaar, Randers and CFR Cluj.

Follow the match below!

VS

Freiburg

Thu, 15.10 19:00

Jablonec

Conference League
League phase, Matchday 1 League phase, Matchday 1 Europa-Park Stadion

No fresh injury woes

Apart from midfielder Florent Muslija, who remains sidelined with a ruptured cruciate knee ligament, Schuster will hope to have a fully fit squad to choose from against Jablonec on Thursday.

© IMAGO/Ulrich Hufnagel

'Credit to the players'

"It was intense, both physically and mentally," said Schuster, whose unbeaten side have picked up 13 points from a possible 15 so far in Germany's top flight. "What made the difference was the way we performed when things got tough. After Yuito Suzuki's red card, the lads played for Yuito and made it look like we still had 11 players on the pitch. Credit to them for getting all three points."

© IMAGO/Arne Amberg

Play video

2:03

Watch: Freiburg 2-1 Schalke - highlights

Keisuke Gotō's scored a late winner as Julian Schuster's charges overcame the Royal Blues on Matchday 5 to move top of the Bundesliga.

Jablonec: The story so far

Jablonec also overcame Scottish opposition to reach the league phase, edging out Glasgow Rangers on penalties in the play-offs after seeing off Varaždin and RFS in qualifying.

© IMAGO/Vit Cerny

Freiburg: The story so far

Europa League runners-up last season but seventh in the Bundesliga, Freiburg thrashed Motherwell 7-2 on aggregate in their Conference League play-off tie. The two legs formed part of a seven-match unbeaten start to the season in all competitions heading into the September-October international break, with Die Breisgauer winning six of those games.

© WM Sport Media

Welcome!

Follow all the build-up and live action as Freiburg get their 2026/27 UEFA Conference League league phase campaign under way against Czechia's Jablonec on Thursday (kick-off: 9pm CEST).

About the clubs

Freiburg

Europa-Park Stadion