Freiburg vs. Red Bull Salzburg: UEFA Europa League LIVE blog and team news

Freiburg can take a big step towards the knockout stage of the UEFA Europa League as they put their unbeaten record on the line at home to Red Bull Salzburg on Thursday (kick-off: 9pm CET).

Julian Schuster’s team are one of four yet to taste defeat in the Europa League this season and sit fourth in the standings with five out of eight games played in the league phase. They have 11 points on the board, leading the pack chasing the three teams in Lyon, Midtjylland and Aston Villa on 12 points.

Freiburg opened their European campaign with a 2-1 win at home to Basel in September before Junior Adamu earned them a 1-1 draw away at Bologna.

Yuito Suzuki and Vincenzo Grifo were on target to claim a 2-0 victory over Utrecht before a first-half treble from Grifo, Johan Manzambi and Derry Scherhant brought three more points with a 3-1 win in Nice at the start of November. A fortnight ago they were held to a goalless draw at Viktoria Plzen, who are the only team alongside Lyon to concede fewer goals than Freiburg’s three.

Salzburg dropped into the Europa League after losing their Champions League third-round qualifier to Club Brugge. Coached by former Bochum boss Thomas Letsch, the Austrians have won just one of their five assignments in the competition – 2-0 at home to Go Ahead Eagles on Matchday 4 – and have lost the other four against Porto (1-0), Lyon (2-0), Ferencvaros (3-2) and most recently Bologna (4-1).

It leaves Salzburg 29th in the 36-team table, which wouldn’t be enough for a spot in the knockout play-offs with three games to go.

LIVE blog!

VS

Freiburg

Thu, 11.12 20:00

Salzburg

Europa League
League phase, Matchday 6 League phase, Matchday 6 Europa-Park Stadion

2:03

Freiburg beaten

Freiburg suffered a narrow defeat at Heidenheim on Saturday due to a stoppage-time strike, but remain well placed in the Bundesliga table in ninth.

Salzburg stay at summit

Having seen Sturm Graz claim the title in the last two years, Salzburg can be cautiously optimistic of regaining it this season. They remained on top spot in the Austrian Bundesliga thanks to a 2-0 win at Blau-Weiss Linz on Saturday, but are just a point ahead of their Graz rivals.

© IMAGO/GEPA pictures/ Christian Moser

Adamu derby

Freiburg striker Junior Adamu developed in the Salzburg youth ranks, spending three years on the first team's books from 2020 to 2023 and once scoring against Bayern Munich in the Champions League for the Austrians. He has three goals in 48 Bundesliga appearances since joining the Black Forest side in summer 2023.

© IMAGO/Marco Steinbrenner/DeFodi Images

Familiar faces

Given the close proximity between Germany and Austria, it is no surprise that several ex-Bundesliga players now feature for Salzburg. Amongst them are ex-Borussia Mönchengladbach man Stefan Lainer and former Union Berlin former Yorbe Vertessen.

© DFL/Getty Images/Simon Hofmann

Head-to-head

Freiburg are yet to face an Austrian club in their history. Salzburg, meanwhile, have played 31 games against German opposition both in their current form as Austria Vienna. They have won 10 games, drawn eight and lost 13.

© IMAGO/Markus Ulmer

Red Bull Salzburg - the story so far

Usually a Champions League participant, Salzburg have struggled to in the Europa League this campaign. They do have a win, against Go Ahead Eagles, but have lost each of their other four games.

© IMAGO/GEPA pictures/ Insidefoto/ Andrea Stacciol

Freiburg - the story so far

After five matchdays, Freiburg are unbeaten after five games and have one foot in the last 16. That includes wins over Basel, Utrecht and Nice on their way to a haul of 11 points.

© IMAGO/JOERAN STEINSIEK

Welcome!

Welcome along and thanks for joining us for build-up and live coverage of Freiburg's Europa League encounter at home to Red Bull Salzburg on Matchday 6 of the league phase, which kicks off at 9pm CET on Thursday.

About the clubs

Sport-Club Freiburg

Europa-Park Stadion