Matchday in focus: Freiburg’s dangerous wingers | OneFootball

Vincenzo Grifo sets the tone for the Black Forest club, who have been vulnerable to counter-attacks this season.

Tactics

Julian Schuster took over as head coach from Freiburg icon Christian Streich at the start of this season, and he usually sends his side out in a 4-2-3-1 formation. That includes robust centre-back pairing Matthias Ginter and Philipp Lienhart as well as holding midfielders Maximilian Eggestein and Patrick Osterhage, who form a physically imposing spine in the middle of the pitch. Ritsu Doan and Vincenzo Grifo, meanwhile, offer a constant threat out wide.

“Grifo and Doan move inside when Freiburg don’t have the ball, so the middle is always compact,” former Eintracht player Ervin Skela told Eintracht TV. “I also think the two defensive midfielders are crucial as they maintain the balance between defence and attack.”

The Eagles won the reverse fixture 4-1 at home on Matchday 17, but Schuster believes his side have progressed since then: “When I look at clips from that game and compare them to the way the team is playing now, we’ve definitely taken a step forward.”

Absentees

The home side will be without injured trio Bruno Ogbus, Daniel-Kofi Kyereh and Eren Dinkci.

Dino Toppmöller must continue to make do without Mario Götze and Kaua Santos, while Tuta is doubtful. “We’ll have to wait and see [with Tuta], we’re not yet 100 percent certain he can play,” said the coach on Thursday.

One to watch: Vincenzo Grifo

Grifo has been a pillar of Freiburg’s team for several years now thanks to his creativity, experience and precision with the ball at his feet, and the 32-year-old has set the tone for the Black Forest club in 2024/25 too.

The nine-time Italy international has started 29 of his side’s 33 Bundesliga fixtures to date this term, registering eight goals and 11 assists. Grifo...

Facts and figures

Eintracht have scored a league-leading 12 times from counter-attacks this season, whereas Freiburg have only netted one such goal. Schuster’s team have also conceded eight goals in transition; St. Pauli are the only club to have let in more on the break (nine).