The next SC opponent is currently presenting himself as historically accurate. VfL has never scored more than the 29 goals that the Wolves currently have at this point in the season. At the sports club there are twelve fewer hits on the credit side. According to Julian Schuster, reasons for this can also be found when analyzing the 1-1 draw at TSG Hoffenheim on the last matchday: “We made wrong decisions in what were supposed to be good starting situations. We have to do better in order to create more chances to score, which will increase the likelihood of scoring more goals.”
It is precisely this decision-making in the final third that is currently an issue in training, as Schuster reports. “It is important that we are in these spaces where it is ‘just’ the last pass or the last cross. In individual situations it was just contact that wasn’t good,” says Schuster.
Lots of choice in the center
Against Hoffenheim, the Freiburg coaching team decided on a starting lineup in which – as before in Dortmund – there was room for Nicolas Höfler, Maximilian Eggestein and Patrick Osterhage. This variant is also conceivable against Wolfsburg: “It can’t just be two of the three on the pitch and I’m very happy that we can vary things and surprise at times.”
Now Merlin Röhl, a fourth candidate for the central position, is getting into better shape after recovering from an injury. Looking at him and also at Eren Dinkci, Schuster says: “We are in the area where you can think about whether they are allowed to play from the start.”
Wolfsburg relies on a quick transition game
Goalkeeper Florian Müller will definitely miss the game against VfL Wolfsburg as he had to be substituted with a concussion in the cup game in Bielefeld. Otherwise, the training ground on Achim-Stocker-Straße is currently still well filled and offers the Freiburg coaching team many opportunities in the duel between home and away strength. So far, the sports club has only lost 3-0 in six home games against FC St. Pauli. Wolfsburg only lost 3-4 in Leverkusen on a foreign pitch.
“They seem very well-rehearsed, very stable, and have clear processes. They can defend very compactly and then have enormous quality, especially in transition moments. That could be one reason why things are going so well away from home,” says Schuster. In order to stop this counterattack, his team has to defend particularly attentively and find a good balance between their own depth and remaining defense.
Marius Faller
Photo: SC Freiburg
Swiss
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