Why Freiburg will beat Celta Vigo in the UEFA Europa League quarter-finals
After reaching the quarter-finals of a UEFA competition for the first time in their history, Freiburg continue their Europa League adventure at home to Celta Vigo in the last-eight first leg on 9 April. Thanks to their recent European form and reliable backline, they have every reason to believe they will progress to the last four.
Following the 1-0 defeat in the first leg of their last 16 clash with Genk, Freiburg turned on the style in the return game as they prevailed 5-1 in front of their own supporters. That free-scoring display was something of an anomaly for Julian Schuster’s men during this continental journey, which has instead been built on a solid defence.
Schuster’s outfit conceded just four goals in their eight league-phase matches, the second-lowest total in the competition behind Viktoria Plzeň. There were breached twice in the last 16, but those strikes ultimately had little impact on the aggregate score. That defensive strength will only become more important as Freiburg venture deeper into the tournament.
Needless to say, Freiburg’s stingy backline has played an integral role in their impressive form in Europe this term. They have lost only two of the 10 matches they have played in the Europa League so far, but both defeats were, in the end, without consequence. The first was in their final league-phase game, after Freiburg had all but guaranteed a top-eight finish, while the second was that first-leg loss in Belgium.
All in all, Freiburg have been bettered in just four of their previous 19 games in European competition, with the other two losses coming against West Ham United in the 2023/24 Europa League. The side from the Black Forest have consistently proven difficult to beat, and their encounters with Celta are unlikely to be any different.
Their run to the Europa League quarter-finals is just a part of Freiburg’s wider cup prowess. In the DFB Cup, Die Breisgauer have displayed nerve and composure to reach the semi-finals for the third time in five years, proving that they thrive when the stakes are at their highest.
Of course, Freiburg will need to be efficient in the final third if they are to progress, but while they are not always prolific, they have players who can hurt their Spanish opponents. Igor Matanović has made the starting centre-forward position his own in recent weeks, scoring six goals in his last 12 Bundesliga outings and also making the scoresheet in that victory over Genk.
Vincenzo Grifo made history in the same match, scoring his 106th Freiburg goal to become the club’s all-time leading scorer. Despite his veteran status, Grifo remains incredibly dangerous, especially from set-pieces - a tool Freiburg will be eager to put to good use against Celta.
On the opposite flank, Yuito Suzuki continues to grow in stature in his debut Bundesliga season and was also a menace against Genk, contributing a goal and an assist. When they get those players in the right positions, Freiburg are a dangerous proposition.
Overall, this is a fantastic opportunity for Freiburg, particularly against a side who themselves have only gone past this stage of a UEFA tournament once before.
Schuster has kept them ticking along nicely since replacing Christian Streich in 2024, but he now has the chance to show a wider audience exactly what his team are capable of.
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