SC Freiburg have boosted their hopes of European football and all but extinguished 1. FC Heidenheim’s Bundesliga survival aspirations with a home victory.
Freiburg secured a 2-1 victory against 1. FC Heidenheim, moving them up to seventh place. Johan Manzambi and Maximilian Eggestein scored for Freiburg. Budu Zivzivadze scored Heidenheim’s equaliser.
Heidenheim remain at the bottom of the table, seven points adrift of the relegation play-off spot, with only four games left to play.
Freiburg’s Early Advantage
SC Freiburg coach Julian Schuster made five changes to his starting eleven compared to the 3-1 win against Celta Vigo in the Europa League quarter-finals. Only Matthias Ginter remained in the back four. Heidenheim coach Frank Schmidt had to make a late change, with Eren Dinkci ruled out due to Achilles tendon problems.
Freiburg aimed to combine their way out of defence with short passes from the outset. However, the visitors from Heidenheim were compact and allowed little space in the early stages. The first big chance of the game came from a corner. Igor Matanovic’s header went just wide of the right post.
The first shot on goal resulted in the lead for Freiburg. Following a Heidenheim free kick, Freiburg switched quickly. Vincenco Grifo drove the ball through midfield and found Manzambi. The 20-year-old moved towards the edge of the penalty area, from where he shot. His shot was deflected by Patrick Mainka, making it unsaveable. It was Manzambi’s fifth goal of the season.
Heidenheim almost conceded a second unfortunate goal in the first half. Grifo’s long-range shot was also deflected, but only hit the crossbar. Lucas Höler headed the following corner dangerously towards goal, but Julian Niehus cleared it just before the line. Heidenheim’s few attacking actions lacked precision, meaning the visitors posed little threat.
Heidenheim’s Fightback and Freiburg’s Response
The importance of the match was evident for Heidenheim. They battled passionately against defeat in the second half. However, they found it difficult to create good chances. In the 59th minute, they capitalised on a mistake by Freiburg in their build-up play. Mathias Honsak found Budu Zivzivadze, who had been substituted on at half-time, who curled the ball into the top left corner from around 17 metres to make it 1-1. It was the 151st goal scored by a substitute this season. This equalled the record from the 2022/23 season.
Freiburg’s response was not long in coming. Manzambi’s pass found Höler, who did not control the ball optimally in the penalty area and therefore could not get it past Heidenheim keeper Diant Ramaj.