bundesliga

Freiburg held at home by battling Wolfsburg

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Nils Petersen scored for the second game in a row, but his Freiburg side were held to a draw at home by Wolfsburg, with back-up goalkeeper Pavao Pervan in inspired form.

Freiburg 1-1 Wolfsburg
Goals: 1-0
Petersen (11'), 1-1 Brekalo (42')

Freiburg were playing in their famous Schwarzwald-Stadion once again, with a new state-of-the-art ground waiting in the wings due to coronavirus-enforced delays. Nothing changed from the norm for the Black Forest-based side, though, as Petersen opened the scoring early on for the second league game on the bounce. His glancing header from Vincenzo Grifo's corner proved too hot for Pavao Pervan to handle – the second-choice Wolfsburg goalkeeper in to start for Koen Casteels, who had pulled up in the warm-up. Freiburg had more chances to extend their lead through Grifo, but Wolfsburg kept themselves in the game throughout and were rewarded for their efforts three minutes before the break. Josip Brekalo fired a free-kick at goal from the edge of the home side's penalty area, with a deflection from Roland Sallai in the wall sending the ball into the back of the net.

Joao Victor – who had been dangerous in the first half – left the game with a groin problem early into the second half for Wolfsburg, who had their backs against the wall and thought they had gone behind again after 58 minutes. Lucas Höler had the ball in the net, but the goal was ruled out for offside after he'd latched onto the rebound from Sallai’s initial shot. Debutant Baptiste Santamaria almost had a first Bundesliga goal but saw his rocket-shot from 25 yards superbly tipped onto the post by Pervan on 64 minutes. The Frenchman had another golden opportunity with 10 minutes to play, but headed straight down the throat of Pervan from a Grifo corner. Freiburg continued to pile on the pressure and the best chance to win the game fell to Höler in added time after he was played in on goal by Wout Weghorst's wayward back-pass. The Freiburg forward couldn't find a finish past Pervan, though, as the Wolves drew their second straight Bundesliga game.

Match stats

  • Freiburg scored the second-most goals from set pieces last season, and have already produced two in two games in 2020/21.
  • Freiburg had won their last three home matches in a row before the arrival of Wolfsburg.
  • Die Breisgauer are unbeaten in their last five meetings with Wolfsburg.
  • Petersen took his tally to 77 goals in 216 Bundesliga appearances. He has registered five goals and three assists in 10 career meetings with Wolfsburg.
  • Freiburg and Wolfsburg scored 48 Bundesliga goals apiece last season - the fewest number of total team goals in the top half of the final standings.
  • Admir Mehmedi began his Bundesliga career with Freiburg, scoring 16 goals in 60 appearances in 2013/14 and 2014/15.

Watch: Petersen on trip to Dortmund in MD3: "There are nicer away games"

Line-ups

Freiburg: Müller - Schmid, Lienhart, Heintz (Gulde 90'), Günter (c) – Sallai (Jeong 78'), Höfler, Santamaria, Grifo (Kwon 78') – Petersen (Demirovic 88'), Höler
Unused subs: Uphoff, Abrashi, Kübler, Itter, Boukhalfa
Out: Flekken (elbow), Haberer (ankle), Schlotterbeck (muscular), Til (ankle)
Coach: Christian Streich

Wolfsburg: Pervan - Klaus, Brooks, Guilavogui (c), Otavio (Roussillon 77') – Arnold (Schlager 58'), Gerhardt – Victor (Steffen 49'), Malli (Mehmedi 58'), Brekalo – Ginczek (Weghorst 77')
Unused subs:
Kasten, Lacroix, Bialek, Mamoush
Out: 
Casteels (foot), Mbabu (knee), Pongracic (glandular fever), William (knee)
Coach: 
Oliver Glasner