Freiburg maintain their unbeaten run with home win over Utrecht

Freiburg continued their unbeaten start to the 2025/26 UEFA Europa League campaign by beating Utrecht 2-0 at the Europa-Park Stadion on Thursday night.

Freiburg 2-0 Utrecht
Goals: 1-0 Suzuki 20' (assist: Günter), 2-0 Grifo 45'

Freiburg started as they meant to go on, having almost all of the ball and making the visitors work hard to keep them at bay. The Utrecht defence appeared to be doing their job well, until a Christian Günter burst down the left flank ended with him finding Yuito Suzuki with a cut-back cross, which the Japanese midfielder gladly slammed home for his first goal in the club’s colours.

Vincenzo Grifo then struck a hammer blow just as it looked like Utrecht were gaining a foothold in the game, whipping a delightful free-kick past the Utrecht keeper moments before the break.

The hosts made a fast start to the second half, almost immediately grabbing a third through that man Suzuki again. Utrecht survived on that occasion, but it served as a sign of things to come.

Maximilian Eggestein then went desperately close to netting their third after creating some space for himself a matter of yards out from goal, but could only find the head of keeper Vasilis Barkas with his shot.

Despite continuous Utrecht pressure in the final 20 minutes, Julian Schuster’s men held firm to continue their unbeaten start to the Europa League campaign. The Black Forest outfit are next in action on the continent on 6 November when they travel over the border to face Nice in France.

See Freiburg's Europa League fixtures here

Recap the match action against Utrecht below...

2 - 0

(2 - 0)

Freiburg

FINAL

Utrecht

Europa League
League phase, Matchday 3 League phase, Matchday 3 Europa-Park Stadion

Full-time: Freiburg 2-0 Utrecht

The visitors made Freiburg work for their win in the second 45, but were still unable to produce many clear chances. Rodriguez had their best opportunity of the game around the hour mark when he failed to convert with a clear sight of goal, but other than that Utrecht didn't create the same quality of openings as Freiburg, who could have won by more. The hosts started the second half brightly with goalscorer Suzuki going close, but two goals were ultimately enough on the night.

© IMAGO/Ralf Brueck

Full-time

90'

+ 1

Three additional minutes

Freiburg will have to wait a bit longer until victory is confirmed.

88'

Yellow card

Derry Murkin

88'

Clean sheet?

Can Freiburg hold Utrecht at bay until the final whistle, or will the visitors find a way through late on?

84'

In the nick of time

A dangerous ball in behind the Freiburg defence has Rodriguez racing toward goal and Atubolu coming out to meet him. Ginter is the one that clears the danger eventually, arriving just in time to save his 'keeper the work.

80'

Lively closing stages

Despite both teams ringing the changes the tempo has not changed. Utrecht are upping their efforts for a goal, while the hosts sense an opportunity for a third.

77'

Substitution

Derry Murkin

Adrian Blake

77'

Substitution

David Min

Sebastien Haller

75'

Substitution

Max Rosenfelder

Yuito Suzuki

75'

Substitution

Derry Scherhant

Vincenzo Grifo

What could've been

With Utrecht continuing to pile on the pressure, Freiburg will be ruing Eggestein's earlier missed chance.

© IMAGO/Eibner-Pressefoto/Thomas Hess

71'

Visitors keep pushing

They're not letting up in their efforts to halve the deficit and are increasing their corner count, but Freiburg are standing firm.

67'

Substitution

Davy Van den Berg

Can Bozdoğan

66'

Substitution

Dani de Wit

Gjivai Zechiel

66'

Substitution

Nicolas Höfler

Johan Manzambi

66'

Substitution

Igor Matanović

Junior Adamu

65'

Haller on the stretch

A cross from the right floats over the Freiburg defence and onto the outstretched foot of Haller, but he can't direct the finished and sees it loop over.

63'

Missed chance!

El Karouani cuts back for Rodriguez in the centre of the box but the winger's effort is tame and straight at Atubolu.

Heating up

Utrecht are now having more of the ball, but Freiburg still look the more dangerous side.

© IMAGO/BEAUTIFUL SPORTS/Bosco

60'

Substitution

Zidane Iqbal

Alonzo Engwanda

59'

Eggestein with a chance!

He fashions a shooting chance from close range with some neat footwork before firing straight at the 'keeper. It should have been three!

57'

Coming into the game

The visitors are having more joy in the final third in recent minutes, and could become even more of a threat if Freiburg don't regain control.

56'

Blake fires over

The Utrecht wing drives at the heart of the Freiburg defence before shooting from just outside the area, but he can't keep his effort down.

52'

Substitution

Eren Dinkçi

Niklas Beste

52'

Dinkçi enters

Beste is unable to continue, and heads down the tunnel as Dinkçi replaces him.

Beste down

The Freiburg midfielder is down and receiving treatment after stretching to squeeze a cross in.

© IMAGO/Grant Hubbs

48'

Great chance!

Suzuki breaks away from midfield and charges toward goal, before shooting toward the far corner of the net from the left-hand side of the box. Barkas saves, and Utrecht survive.

46'

We're back!

The action is back underway.

Kick-off!

Half-time: Freiburg 2-0 Utrecht

The hosts were clearly the better side throughout the half, dominating the ball and taking their chances when they arose. Utrecht were difficult to pick apart, but Freiburg found a way, with a tidy finish from Suzuki and a moment of magic from Grifo giving them a comfortable lead at the break.

© IMAGO/Ralf Brueck

Half-time

Grifo makes it 2-0!

The set-piece specialist steps up to do what he does best. Having won a free-kick in a central position, he steps up to bend it into the right corner of the Utrecht net.

© IMAGO/BEAUTIFUL SPORTS/Bosco

45'

Vincenzo Grifo

GOAL!

2:0

41'

Corner for Utrecht

The visitors continue their search for an equaliser, but aren't able to find it via a corner which is cleared by a Freiburg head.

39'

Game opening up

The visitors have found their attacking spark, upping the tempo of the game. Freiburg are still looking for another goal, too.

35'

Freiburg counter

The hosts launch a counter from that corner, and win one of their own at the other end! It ends with a free-kick for the opposition, however, after Manzambi committed a foul on Barkas.

35'

Visitors finally threaten

A cross from the left almost finds Bozdoğan at the far post, but it's bundled out for an Utrecht corner, which comes to nothing.

31'

Brilliant from Manzambi!

He weaves his way past a couple of opposing defenders on the right side of the box before firing the ball against the crossbar on the far side of the goal, almost scoring a sublime solo effort!

Tense battle

Although Freiburg are already ahead, Utrecht are defending resolutely as they search for a way back into this contest.

© IMAGO/Eibner-Pressefoto/Thomas Hess

26'

Suzuki goes close

He latches onto a bouncing ball on the edge of the area and lashes a half-volley goalward, stinging the palms of the 'keeper.

25'

Breathing space

The hosts can breathe a sigh of relief after that goal, with the visitors looking difficult to break down intially.

Goal! Suzuki opens the scoring

The Japan midfielder storms into the box to hit home the opener, after a brilliant cross from Günter on the left.

© IMAGO/Eibner-Pressefoto/Thomas Hess

20'

Yuito Suzuki

GOAL!

1:0

18'

Günter delivers

The left-back whips in a dangerous low cross, but Van der Hoorn is there again to clear.

16'

Stubborn defence

For all of Freiburg's effort, they've struggled to create any openings as of yet and have been limited to shots from distance.

12'

Hosts probing

Freiburg are dominating possession, with Utrecht struggling to break into the opposing half so far.

8'

Eggestein from distance

The midfielder finds himself in space in a central position and lets fly, but his shot is straight at the 'keeper.

7'

Barkas collects

The Utrecht 'keeper claims the following corner, briefly relieving the pressure on his side.

6'

Corner for Freiburg

Grifo swings in an inviting free-kick from the right which requires Van der Hoorn to head out for a corner.

2'

Treu blazes over

A long throw from Lienhart is cleared only as far as the full-back, who gets right underneath the bouncing ball, sending it into the stands.

1'

Kick-off!

After a slight delay, we're off and running!

Kick-off!

More on those teams

Freiburg make just two changes from their previous European fixture with Bologna (1-1), with Makengo and Osterhage making way for Günter and Suzuki. Utrecht also make two changes from their 1-0 loss to Brann last time out, with Haller and Bozdoğan coming in for Iqbal and Min.

© DFL/Getty Images/Christian Kaspar-Bartke

Freiburg starting lineup

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

Freiburg subs

Huth, Jung, Scherhant, Höler, Kübler, Dinkçi, Philipp, Höfler, Matanović, Makengo, Rosenfelder, Ogbus

Utrecht starting lineup

Barkas - Horemans, Van der Hoorn, Viergever (c), El Karouani - Engwanda, Zechiel, Bozdoğan - Rodriguez, Blake, Haller

Utrecht subs

Brouwer, Gadellaa, Finnsson, Van den Berg, Min, Cathline, Iqbal, De Wit, Jonathans, Didden, Eerdhuijzen, Murkin

Freiburg without Patrick Osterhage

Freiburg will have to do without Osterhage (pictured left) for tonight's game due to a muscular injury. The German midfielder has started both of his club's Europa League fixtures this season.

© IMAGO/Marco Steinbrenner/DeFodi Images

Schuster on possible changes

"It's about a healthy mix. Which player can I trust to take on more workload? In the end, you have to look at it from game to game. You can't predict it with 100 percent certainty. The important thing is that the guys give their all in training sessions."

© IMAGO/Heiko Blatterspiel

Julian Schuster on facing Utrecht

"They're a team that can defend very disciplined. At the same time, you can see the typical Dutch training. Lots of guys who can play well."

© IMAGO/Arne Amberg

Utrecht out of sorts

The visitors currently sit eighth in the Eredivisie, having won four, drawn one and lost four of their first nine games. They've won just once in their last five, which was their most recent fixture against Volendam, who they beat 3-1.

© IMAGO

Back in Germany

Returning to a Bundesliga ground with his current side Utrecht will be none other than striker Sébastien Haller, formerly of Eintracht Frankfurt (2017-2019) and Borussia Dortmund (2022-2025). In total, the Ivorian amassed a total of 33 goals in 93 Bundesliga appearances across both clubs.

© IMAGO/Eibner-Pressefoto/Bahho Kara/IMAGO/Eibner

0:58

Watch: Freiburg 2-2 Frankfurt - highlights

Scoring late, scoring early

The Black Forest outfit have developed something of a tendency to score at the extremities of their games this season. They managed a come-from-behind win on Matchday 3 against Stuttgart with all three of their goals being scored after the 80th minute. Against Hoffenheim on Matchday 5, Lukas Kübler opened the scoring after just two minutes. Likewise, at the weekend, Derry Scherhant netted in the opening two minutes before Vincenzo Grifo rescued a point with a stunning 87th minute free-kick.

© Daniela Porcelli

Strong recent form

In all competitions, Freiburg are unbeaten in their last seven games, which bodes well for their clash with Utrecht. Of those seven games, however, they have drawn four - incidentally, those four have come in their last four games.

© IMAGO/Heiko Blatterspiel

Unbeaten start

Freiburg are unbeaten in Europe this season after beating Basel and drawing away to Bologna. Utrecht, on the other hand, are pointless following defeats to Lyon and Brann.

© ANDREAS SOLARO

Welcome!

Welcome along to live coverage of Freiburg's third match in the league phase of the 2025/26 UEFA Europa League at home to Dutch side Utrecht on Thursday.

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Europa-Park Stadion