Freiburg started full of self-confidence against Leipzig. After a few minutes, however, the game was decided – and the SC was eliminated from the cup.
Same opponent, same winner: In the semifinals of the DFB Cup, RB Leipzig easily defeated SC Freiburg. With a 5:1 victory (4:0), coach Marco Rose’s team made it into the final again – and can defend their title. Freiburg, on the other hand, also missed a win against Leipzig in the new edition of 2022 – despite a good initial phase and a majority in the meantime.
After this gala performance at the latest, the Saxons will be the favorites going into the final on June 3rd in Berlin’s Olympic Stadium. The opponent will be determined in the second semi-final between VfB Stuttgart and Eintracht Frankfurt on Wednesday (from 8.45 p.m. in the t-online live ticker).
Leipzig’s Dani Olmo redeemed his team after just 13 minutes with the goal to make it 1-0. Benjamin Henrichs (14th), Dominik Szoboszlai (37th) and Christopher Nkunku (45th + 1) added before the break. Szoboszlai scored the final score with a penalty (90+8). Central defender Josko Gvardiol saw a straight red in the 58th minute after preventing Freiburg from having a clear scoring opportunity. He is missing in the final in Berlin. Michael Gregoritsch scored the consolation goal for SC (75th).
That’s how the game went
33,300 spectators, including national coach Hansi Flick, DFB sports director Rudi Völler and DFB President Bernd Neuendorf, saw a demonstration by the defending champion. “Leipzig showed today what quality they have on offense,” said Flick during the half-time break on pay TV broadcaster Sky: “The way the goals came was really good.”
Freiburg went into the game with a lot of desire for revenge. Because of the lost cup final last year, striker Lucas Höler had said that “still an open account” and will be “emotionally charged”. But RB coach Marco Rose also announced that his players would “scratch, bite, spit”. But what they showed above all: outstanding attacking football.
After a hard-fought opening minute, Leipzig took over and showed their class with the first two goals: Olmo’s header made it 1-0 after an inimitable sprint from Nkunku and a tailor-made cross from Marcel Halstenberg. When Henrichs made it 2-0 after a fine combination game, RB made the Freiburg defenders look like beginners.
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The people of Breisgau were visibly shocked by the early two-goal deficit – and coach Streich reacted. Already after 20 minutes he brought Vincenzo Grifo. With the creative player, a little more order returned to the Freiburg game, and RB goalkeeper Janis Blaswich had to save against Höler on his 32nd birthday (34th).
But the guests remained dangerous with their enormous speed and playfulness. Everything went too fast for the Freiburg team to make it 3-0 after a one-two from Olmo and Szoboszlai. Above all, Olmo, who also prepared Nkunku to make it 4-0, couldn’t get the SC under control at all.
The half-time whistle was a salvation for Freiburg. But the Breisgauers didn’t succeed in changing sides either, before Gvardiol’s dismissal after a foul on Roland Sallai and Gregoritsch’s goal caused a little excitement.
On Saturday Leipzig has to compete again in the Breisgau in the Bundesliga. Then it is up to the table fourth from Freiburg and the fifth from Saxony for important points in the fight for the Champions League.
