SC Freiburg won the thrilling prestige duel against VfB Stuttgart and confirmed their excellent early form in the Bundesliga. The team of veteran coach Christian Streich prevailed 3-2 in a furious Baden-Württemberg derby at VfB.
After the surprising 2: 1 against Borussia Dortmund in the previous week, the Breisgauer are at the top with seven points from three games.
Two goals from Woo-Yeong Jeong (3rd / 9th) and a header from Lucas Höler (28th) had apparently put Freiburg in the lead in front of national coach Hansi Flick.
But a show of strength by the Swabians shortly before the break made the encounter exciting again: Konstantinos Mavropanos (45th), despite a handball in advance, and Hamadi Al Ghaddioui (45th + 2) shortened for VfB.
Second defeat
For the Stuttgart team, who were still clearly weakened in the offensive and who no longer wanted to equalize in the second round, it was the second defeat in a row. Streich had to make a change in his starting lineup, Lukas Kübler replaced Jonathan Schmid, who is the contact person in corona quarantine. Meanwhile, VfB coach Pellegrino Matarazzo sent the same team onto the field that started at 4-0 at RB Leipzig.
This approach initially seemed to take revenge. While the Stuttgart found no access at all with bad passes and lost duels, the Freiburg team struck cold. First Jeong hit with a placed header, then the 21-year-old raised with a powerful dropkick under the bar after a corner kick. For the South Korean it was the first Bundesliga double of his career.
After just under half an hour, Freiburg crowned the dream start - again after a cross: Höler headed in from close range, VfB goalkeeper Florian Müller, who only moved from Freiburg to Stuttgart in the summer, was powerless.
When the match seemed already decided, the hosts, cheered on by the majority of the 25,000 fans, regained hope.
In a pressure phase, Mavropanos stormed on the offensive and completed free-standing in front of goalkeeper Mark Flekken.
Referee Frank Willenborg (Osnabrück) and video assistant Daniel Schlager did not punish a handball in advance.
Shortly afterwards, Al Ghaddioui shortened his head and caused the arena to shake.
VfB sporting director Sven Mislintat applauded all of his protégés before entering the dressing room.
Streich made three changes during the break, but VfB still took the tailwind into the second half of the game. But the quick equalization did not succeed. After an hour, the Freiburg team managed to control the game again from a compact defense. Roland Sallai had the match ball for Freiburg (73rd) on his foot.