From one to eight scoring chances. Compared to the 0:0 in Mainz, SC Freiburg significantly improved their offensive performance in the 3:0 against Augsburg. The reasons for this: four personnel changes and a worker who was underestimated for a long time with his best performance so far for the Breisgauer.
Christian Streich changed his starting eleven on four positions for the last regular Bundesliga match in the time-honoured cult venue Dreisamstadion. For Kevin Schade and Roland Sallai, Vincenzo Grifo and Woo-Yeong Jeong moved into the attacking three, for Janik Haberer and Yannik Keitel, the recovered regular Nicolas Höfler and summer addition Maximilian Eggestein started on the double six.
In retrospect, the coach was right with all four changes. Grifo provided momentum on the left side, initiated the 2:0 and converted the penalty kick to make it 3:0. Thanks to his ball security, strategist Höfler gave the SC game calmness and structure, was twice goal-threatening with his head and initiated an early chance by Lucas Höler with a chip ball into the penalty area. His partner Eggestein complemented him well in the centre and recorded an assist with his well-timed pass before Höler’s 2:0. Jeong fell a little short of the aforementioned colleagues, especially because he missed a top-class chance (64th minute), but also proved his worth through his hustle with and against the ball up front.
By the way, it was the aforementioned Höler who set up Jeong’s great chance – which brings us to the player of the match. Höler didn’t manage to put Höfler’s bouncing ball into the net, which wasn’t easy to take, but his performance on Sunday evening was outstanding. It is well known by now that he is unpleasant for opposing defenders due to his relentless, tactically clever tackling and his strength in duels (he won 10 of 13 duels), as he showed against Augsburg. Höler brings this level consistently and is, among other things, therefore set with Streich so far this season.
However, Höler has stunned more than a few observers with his technically outstanding contributions to the first two meetings against FCA. First, he created a free finish for Christian Günter with a well-tempered through pass into the run – Lukas Kübler converted the follow-up shot. And then, after Eggestein’s service into the penalty area, Höler shone with a perfect reception of the ball and a well-considered chip ball past the rushing Rafal Gikiewicz into the net.
Valuable – regardless of scorer points
Even in his early days at Freiburg after his move from two-league club Sandhausen in January 2018, Höler would not have been associated with such actions. The 1.84-metre man was already a hard worker back then, but still showed considerable technical deficiencies. Would he ever be able to consistently prove his suitability for the Bundesliga? At that time, there were great doubts. In the meantime, they have disappeared, even if Höler’s quota of 19 goals in 113 Bundesliga appearances is still clearly capable of improvement. However, he is now valuable for the SC game in almost every one of his appearances – regardless of scoring points. “Lucas Höler helps us brutally,” Streich once again praised him at the end of August.
Höler reaches unsuspected level of quality
Against FCA, Höler, who was very present and played well by cleverly dropping back, has now shown by far his best performance in a Freiburg shirt – and received the kicker grade 1.0 for the first time. Höler’s development over almost four years is emblematic of the Freiburg school, where under the guidance of Streich and his coaching colleagues, widely underrated players regularly reach unsuspected levels of quality.
