At the Europa-Park Stadion, SC Freiburg closed out their UEFA Europa League league stage campaign with a controlled 1–0 win over Maccabi Tel Aviv, decided by Igor Matanović’s late goal. On a night where Julian Schuster’s side needed to underline their status as one of the competition’s form teams, they did exactly that, tightening their grip on a play-off place. The victory lifts Freiburg to 17 points from seven matches, unbeaten and with an impressive goal difference, while Maccabi remain rooted near the bottom of the overall standings after another defeat in a difficult European campaign.
First-half analysis
The opening 45 minutes were tight and, in terms of major incidents, largely uneventful. Freiburg, set up in a 4-2-3-1, looked to impose themselves territorially, while Maccabi Tel Aviv’s 3-4-2-1 under Žarko Lazetić was clearly designed to stay compact and frustrate.
The only notable entry in the referee’s notebook before the break came right on 45', when Ben Lederman was shown a yellow card for a foul. That booking underlined Maccabi’s willingness to break up Freiburg’s rhythm whenever the hosts threatened to connect through midfield. However, with no goals and no further cards before the interval, the half-time score of 0–0 accurately reflected a contest in which Freiburg’s pressure had not yet translated into a breakthrough and Maccabi’s defensive focus had, to that point, done its job.
Second half & tactical shifts
The second half brought a clear shift in tone as both coaches began to play their hands. At 63', Lazetić made a triple substitution that changed the profile of Maccabi’s attack. Dor Peretz went off for Kervin Andrade, Saied Abu Farchi made way for Yonas Malede, and Sagiv Jehezkel was replaced by Hélio Varela. All three changes suggested fresh legs and more direct threat up front, even as Jehezkel’s earlier yellow card for argument at 63' hinted at growing frustration.
Just six minutes later, Andrade himself entered the book with a yellow card at 69', illustrating how hard Maccabi’s substitutes were having to work without the ball. At 78', Lederman’s evening ended when he was substituted out for Issouf Sissokho, a further attempt by Lazetić to reinforce the midfield and stem Freiburg’s growing control.
Schuster responded decisively at 79', making a triple change of his own to tilt the game further in Freiburg’s favour. Jan-Niklas Beste was withdrawn for Cyriaque Irié, Derry Scherhant made way for Vincenzo Grifo, and Yuito Suzuki was replaced by Johan Manzambi. Introducing Grifo in particular added extra creativity and set-piece quality in the final third, while Irié and Manzambi offered fresh energy between the lines.
The breakthrough finally arrived on 82'. Matanović, Freiburg’s lone starting forward, struck the decisive goal, finishing a move created by captain Christian Günter, who provided the assist. It was a reward for Freiburg’s persistent pressure and Schuster’s timing with his substitutions. Maccabi tried one last adjustment at 88', with Itamar Noy going off for Ido Shahar, but the visitors never found a way back. In the 90', Schuster protected his match-winner, taking off Matanović and sending on Lucas Höler to help see out the final moments.
Statistical deep dive
The numbers underline Freiburg’s control of the contest. They held 59% of the ball, moving it with assurance and accuracy: 459 total passes at an 88% completion rate. Maccabi Tel Aviv, by contrast, conceded possession and were limited to 41% of the ball, though their 334 passes at 82% accuracy showed they were not completely wasteful when they did have it.
In attack, the gulf was stark. Freiburg unleashed 21 total shots, with 6 on goal, and generated an expected goals (xG) figure of 2.96. That volume and quality of chances suggest the 1–0 scoreline actually flattered Maccabi. The visitors managed just 4 shots in total, 3 on target, and an xG of only 0.17, underlining how rarely they were able to threaten Noah Atubolu’s goal. Freiburg’s goalkeeper needed just 3 saves, while Roei Mashpati made 4 at the other end, further reflecting the direction of play.
Discipline also told a story. Freiburg committed 9 fouls and avoided any bookings, managing the game with composure. Maccabi’s 14 fouls and 3 yellow cards – for Lederman, Jehezkel and Andrade – highlighted the strain of defending for long stretches and the increasing frustration as Freiburg’s pressure mounted.
Standings & implications
The result cements SC Freiburg’s excellent Europa League league stage. With 17 points from 7 matches, a +7 goal difference and a record of 5 wins and 2 draws, they sit 3rd in the overall table and move on to the Europa League play-off round for the last 16 with momentum and an unbeaten record. Their home form is especially formidable: 4 wins from 4, with 6 goals scored and just 1 conceded in Freiburg.
For Maccabi Tel Aviv, the defeat is a harsh but accurate reflection of their campaign. They remain 36th, with just 1 point, a -17 goal difference, and no wins from 7 games. With only 2 goals scored and 19 conceded overall, and 1 point from 4 away matches, their European journey ends with serious questions about how to bridge the gap to this level in future seasons.
