Philipp Lienhart scored the only goal against Salzburg to keep Freiburg going strong in Europe. - © IMAGO/GEPA pictures/ Oliver Lerch

bundesliga

Freiburg remain unbeaten in the UEFA Europa League with narrow win over Red Bull Salzburg

12.12.2025

Freiburg beat Red Bull Salzburg 1-0 in the 2025/26 UEFA Europa League to take them to four wins and two draws from six games in the competition, continuing their unbeaten start and edging them closer to qualification to the knockout rounds.

Freiburg 1-0 RB Salzburg
Goals: 1-0 Lienhart 50’
Red card: Ratkov 38’

Neither side gave too much away defensively in the opening exchanges, with Freiburg having more of the ball and going closest via long-range strikes from Yuito Suzuki and Johan Manzambi, and a glancing header from Maximilian Eggestein. Eggestein was then involved in the first half’s main talking point, with Salzburg's Petar Ratkov seeing red for his elbow on the Freiburg midfielder. Edmund Baidoo had the clearest chance of the half after his teammates' dismissal, but his finish rolled past the far post after a brilliant solo run.

Freiburg’s worries over whether they’d manage to break down the 10 men of Salzburg were almost immediately put at ease when Philipp Lienhart poked home from close range just five minutes into the second half. Salzburg did have a promising spell of possession toward the end of the game, but were still unable to threaten, and while Freiburg also found it tough to create clear-cut chances, they equally didn’t appear at risk of surrendering their lead.

Julian Schuster’s men now sit fifth in the standings and will look to keep their unbeaten European run going against Maccabi Tel Aviv on 22 January.

See Freiburg's European results and fixtures here!

Recap the action against Salzburg below...

1 - 0

(0 - 0)

Freiburg

FINAL

Salzburg

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

Full-time: Freiburg 1-0 RB Salzburg

The Breisgau club got off to the ideal start in the second half, scoring the opener after just five minutes. They were well in control for the majority of the half after that and were rarely troubled by the visitors. They didn't come especially close, but it's the three points that count, and Lienhart's scruffy goal was enough to keep their unbeaten European run alive.

Full-time

90'

+ 4

Schlager tested

Günter volleys from distance and it bounces just before reaching the 'keeper, who parries the ball right in front of him. Salzburg manage to clear eventually.

90'

+ 1

Five more minutes

There's still plenty to play for before the final whistle.

90'

Yellow card

Yuito Suzuki

89'

Substitution

Karim Onisiwo

Stefan Lainer

87'

Can they hold their nerve?

Can Freiburg hold onto their slender lead and keep their unbeaten run going?

85'

Substitution

Patrick Osterhage

Johan Manzambi

83'

Down but not out

Despite having a man less, the visitors have had a lot of the ball in the past few minutes.

80'

Yellow card

Lukas Kübler

78'

Goalscorer departs

Having scored the only goal of the game thus far, Lienhart departs having picked up a knock.

77'

Substitution

Lucas Höler

Vincenzo Grifo

76'

Substitution

Anthony Jung

Philipp Lienhart

76'

Substitution

Kerim Alajbegović

Yorbe Vertessen

76'

Substitution

Karim Konaté

Edmund Baidoo

75'

Tame

Manzambi shoots from just outside the box, but it's an easy save for Schlager.

73'

Subs hold the key?

Do Matanović or Kübler have the answer to finding that important second goal?

70'

Substitution

Igor Matanović

Junior Adamu

70'

Substitution

Lukas Kübler

Philipp Treu

On the search

The hosts continue to search for a second goal, but the ten men of Salzburg are defending well.

63'

Substitution

Moussa Yeo

Soumaila Diabate

59'

Inches away

Ginter rises highest from a corner, but his header bounces just wide of the post.

55'

Still coming

Freiburg haven't slowed down since their goal, with that opener easing the pressure on them and allowing them to attack with greater freedom.

Freiburg get their goal!

They don't get a penalty, but they don't care! The corner originally won is played to Beste on the edge of the area, who fires a low shot toward goal. It travels though a forest of legs in the box, before Lienhart gets the final touch.

50'

Philipp Lienhart

GOAL!

1:0

49'

Penalty check

Manzambi went down under a challenge by the byline inside the area, which is currently under review.

48'

Bright start

Freiburg have again started on the front foot.

46'

Substitution

Tim Trummer

Clement Bischoff

46'

We're back!

The ball is rolling again.

Kick-off!

Half-time: Freiburg 0-0 RB Salzburg

It's been a half of few goalmouth opportunities, with Baidoo having the clearest chance that either side has created. Suzuki and Manzambi did go close for Freiburh, although with long range efforts. The hosts will be optimistic ahead of the second half, however, with Salzburg a man down after Ratkov's sending off.

Half-time

45'

+ 4

Baidoo a problem

The Salzburg man has shown on more than one occasion that he's capable of leading a lone breakaway, with Freiburg struggling to contain him.

45'

+ 1

Yellow card

Stefan Lainer

45'

+ 1

Seven more minutes

Almost ten more minutes will be played at the end of this half, largely due to the time spent dwelling over the red card.

43'

Salzburg should have scored!

Baidoo breaks away and heads toward goal, travelling from near halfway into the area. He feints to shoot at the vital moment, sending Treu the wrong way and with only Atubolu to beat, puts his finish the wrong side of the far post.

39'

Down to ten!

Freiburg now have a man advantage after Ratkov's sending off, but can they capitalise on it?

38'

Red card

Petar Ratkov

37'

Under review

Ratkov's elbow on Eggestein is now being checked for a possible red card.

35'

Eggestein in the thick of it

An elbow to the nose has blood running down his face, and play is halted.

35'

Yellow card

Petar Ratkov

30'

So close!

A near post header from a corner by Eggestein flashes past the far post.

27'

Manzambi almost finds the opener!

The ball is recycled after Salzburg clear a Freiburg corner, and it finds its way to Manzambi outside of the box. He strikes it first-time, with his strike narrowly missing the top corner.

23'

Beste in trouble

The midfielder looks to have picked up an injury, and is down on the turf.

18'

Suzuki with a rocket!

He turns and fires toward goal from the edge of the box, and his powerful effort goes just over the bar.

14'

Tense opening

While both sides have looked good on the ball, neither is giving much away defensively.

10'

Hosts probing

Freiburg are enjoying a positive spell of possession in the Salzburg half.

Lienhart down

He lands awkwardly after jumping for a header and is currently receiving treatment.

Visitors threatening

Salzburg have looked bright in these opening minutes, with Freiburg having to chase back toward their own goal on a couple of occasions.

So it begins!

Tonight's European action is underway here in Freiburg.

Kick-off!

Looks who's back

Michael Gregoritsch is a special guest at the Europa-Park tonight. The Austrian - who left Freiburg from Brondby in the summer - is presented with a commemorative plaque in honour of his three years of service to the club.

It's tight at the top

Results elsewhere in the early kick-offs mean Freiburg have slipped to ninth, outside the automatic knockout phase qualification places on goal difference. A fourth win in six league-phase games would lift them back into the top eight, though, with matches against Maccaibi Tel Aviv (h) and Lille (a) to come in January.

Lienhart starts

Question-marks had lingered over Philipp Lienhart's fitness and availability for tonight's encounter, having picked up a knock at the weekend, which forced him to be subbed off at half-time. However, the Austria international has recovered and gets the nod this evening.

More on that Freiburg side

Likewise, Julian Schuster also makes three changes to the starting line-up which he fielded in the 2-1 weekend defeat away to Heidenheim. Captain Christian Günter (pictured, l.) is back among the starters, as is Yuito Suzuki (r.) and Junior Adamu, who gets the nod against his former club. As a result, Lukas Kübler, Patrick Osterhage and Lucas Höler take their places among the substitutes.

More on that Salzburg side

Salzburg assistant manager Kai Hesse makes three changes from the weekend's domestic win at Linz. Jannik Schuster is ill and misses the game, whilst former Bayern starlet Frans Krätzig (pictured) - who was at Heidenheim last season - and Moussa Yeo drop to the bench. In come Jacob Rasmussen, Aleksa Terzić and Clement Bischoff.

Freiburg starting XI

Atubolu – Treu, Ginter, Lienhart, Günter (c) – Eggestein, Manzambi – Beste, Suzuki, Grifo - Adamu

Freiburg subs

Müller, Huth, Jung, Osterhage, Scherhant, Höler, Kübler, Irié, Höfler, Matanović, Makengo, Ogbus

Salzburg starting XI

Schlager – Lainer, Gadou, Rasmussen, Terzić – Bidstrup (c), Diabate – Baidoo, Vertessen, Bischoff – Ratkov

Salzburg subs

Zawieschitzky, Hamzic, Onisiwo, Krätzig, Diambou, Konaté, Lukic, Alajbegović, Trummer, Sulzbacher, Aguilar, Yeo

Against his old teammates

Adamu, who scored 23 times in 84 games for Salzburg after coming through the youth ranks at the club, spoke ahead of potentially being reunited with old friends in tonight's clash. The Freiburg forward said: "I was in touch with some players, but I know only four of them and some are injured. I'm excited that they're here, it's bringing up a lot of good memories for me. I also told the coaches some things about how they line up and play. I'm really looking forward to this game."

Good omen

Although he won't be present for tonight's encounter, Thomas Letsch's record against Freiburg as a manager stands at three losses from three games played.

Freiburg's fortress

The Breisgau club have lost just once at home in all competitions so far this season. That lone defeat came on Bundesliga Matchday 1, when were beaten 3-1 by Augsburg. They've won six and drawn two of the remaining eight home fixtures.

Kai Hesse on facing Freiburg

"We're expecting a tough game against a strong opponent. They rely on their compactness but also have many good individual players, including [Noah] Atubolu, a potential future German national goalkeeper. They're also good at set-pieces, and we've prepared the lads for that. Nevertheless, I think we'll create our chances, and we need to take advantage of them. We're clear about what we want to bring to the pitch tomorrow."

Salzburg without Thomas Letsch

The visitors' head coach has not travelled across the border to Germany due to illness. Barring a miraculously speedy recovery, assistant coach Kai Hesse is expected to take charge of this evening's game on the sidelines.

Julian Schuster on facing Salzburg

"They are a very interesting team. They are very young and have a lot of quality in the squad. They have great tempo and are a real threat on the break."

Thomas Letsch on facing Freiburg

"Freiburg are a team that have been a key part of the German Bundesliga for years and qualified for the Europa League last year. They rely heavily on their collective strength and are very cohesive as a team. They were already very compact under Christian Streich, and Julian Schuster has continued that. A match against a German Bundesliga team is also always exciting."

Unbeaten record to remain intact?

Freiburg are just one of four teams to be yet to taste defeat in this year's Europa League league phase, alongside: Real Betis, Ferencváros and Viktoria Plzeň. Despite the weekend defeat to Heidenheim, the Black Forest outfit should remain confident, especially considering Salzburg have managed only one win in this year's competition.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.