Freiburg demolish Werder Bremen with five-star performance
Vincenzo Grifo and Ritsu Dōan both scored twice, after an acrobatic Kiliann Sildillia effort to open the scoring, as Freiburg overpowered Werder Bremen to the tune of 5-0 on Friday evening.
Freiburg 5-0 Werder Bremen
Goals: 1-0 Sildillia (15'), 2-0 Grifo (33'), 3-0 Grifo 57' (assist: Höler), 4-0 Dōan 76' (assist: Dinkçi), 5-0 Dōan 90'+2 (assist: Beste)
Freiburg entered the match in fine form, having won their last three Bundesliga games under new coach Julian Schuster, while Bremen were looking to bounce back from two consecutive defeats. The home side's strong record at the Europa-Park Stadion, where they had won seven out of ten games this season, set the stage for an intriguing encounter.
Sildillia's stunner breaks the deadlock
The match burst into life in the 15th minute when Sildillia produced a moment of magic. Following a corner taken by Grifo, the ball looped up in the air, and Sildillia executed a perfect bicycle kick that flew past Michael Zetterer in the Bremen goal. The acrobatic finish not only opened the scoring but also set the tone for Freiburg's dominant performance.
Grifo doubles the lead, Silva squanders chance
Grifo extended Freiburg's lead in the 33rd minute with a sublime free-kick. The Italian midfielder curled the ball around the wall and into the bottom corner, leaving Zetterer with no chance. Bremen had an opportunity to pull one back when they were awarded a penalty in the 39th minute after a handball by Sildillia. However, André Silva's spot-kick was brilliantly saved by Noah Atubolu, preserving Freiburg's two-goal advantage at half-time.
Freiburg run riot in the second half
The hosts continued their dominance after the break, with Grifo scoring his second and Freiburg's third in the 57th minute. Lucas Höler provided the assist, crossing from the right for Grifo to volley in from close range. Bremen's resistance crumbled as Freiburg's clinical attack proved too much to handle. In response, Bremen coach Ole Werner made a triple substitution at the hour mark, bringing on Jens Stage, Marvin Ducksch, and Felix Agu, but it did little to change the course of the game.
Dōan seals the victory
Ritsu Dōan added a fourth in the 76th minute, assisted by substitute Eren Dinkçi. The Japanese midfielder then scored his second and Freiburg's fifth in stoppage time, this time assisted by Niklas Beste, to complete the rout. The final scoreline of 5-0 reflected Freiburg's dominance and clinical finishing throughout the match.
Player of the Match: Ritsu Dōan
Dōan's performance stood out in an impressive team display. The Japanese midfielder capped off Freiburg's dominant victory with two well-taken goals in the second half. His first came from a clever run and finish, while his second in stoppage time showcased his composure in front of goal. Dōan's contribution went beyond his goals, as he was a constant threat to the Bremen defence with his movement and creativity.
Bundesliga Match Facts
xGoals: Freiburg 2.62 - Bremen 1.27
Fastest player: Justin Njinmah (Bremen), 34.97 km/h
Lowest goal probability: 1-0 by Kiliann Sildillia (Freiburg), 15.8 percent
Most pressed player: Romano Schmid (Bremen), 35 times under pressure
Pass efficiency: Matthias Ginter (Freiburg), +1.03
Fantasy Heroes: Ritsu Dōan (Freiburg, 386 Points), Vincenzo Grifo (Freiburg, 320 Points), Noah Atubolu (Freiburg, 264 Points)
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