Finally back to the Bundesliga, finally back to the audience - but no goals: Arminia Bielefeld and SC Freiburg started the season with a 0-0 draw.
The first zero number of the 2021/22 season was still an entertaining game.
The best man on the field was Stefan Ortega. The Bielefeld goalkeeper had been traded at Bayern after a good pre-season and had received a hint from national coach Joachim Löw to be ready for the European Championship in the event of an injury. The Badeners scored for the first time since 1987 and after four defeats at the East Westphalia, for which the fifth success in a row against the same club would have meant a club record.
The 13,750 spectators seemed downright inspired by their return to the stadium and the beautiful summer weather. They made noise as if the arena was not only officially sold out, but also completely full and applauded with satisfaction even after the final whistle. While the Freiburg team logically came up with no new signing, as they hadn't signed any in the summer, Arminia started in midfield in the former Schalke Alessandro Schöpf and the striker Brian Lasme, who was brought in from FC Sochaux, started two. Six more sat on the bench, Robin Hack, who was brought in from Nuremberg during the week (from the 67th minute, the former Auer Florian Krüger (77th) and Janni Serra (90th), who was brought to Kiel, came to their Bundesliga- Debuts for Bielefeld.
Both teams started with a swing, but with their tactical discipline they initially hardly gave their opponents any scoring opportunities. The first came after a corner when Ortega parried Nicolas Höfler's header (18th). Freiburg also has a good second chance. Again according to a standard situation. But Ortega also held against Nico Schlotterbeck, who had shot from close range after a free kick by Vincenzo Grifo (31). Arminia's best chance before the break was a shot by Lasme, which went from 20 meters (26th).
But less than two minutes after the break, Masaya Okugawa should have put Bielefeld in the lead. The Japanese appeared alone in front of SC keeper Mark Flekken, but acted too hectically in the first and second attempt. Freiburg then turned up again, but Ortega was still in top form, parried brilliantly against Lucas Höler (55th) and Jonathan Schmid (57th). Freiburg usually seemed closer to the winning goal, while substitute Ermedin Demirovic headed just wide in stoppage time.