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Werder suffer disappointing defeat on opening weekend in Freiburg
MATCH REPORT FOLLOWING THE AWAY GAME AT SC FREIBURG
30/08/26 | 5 Min
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SV Werder suffered a disappointing defeat in their first league game of the 2026/27 season. The Green-Whites were on the receiving end of a 4-1 defeat against SC Freiburg in front of 34,700 spectators. Just before the half-hour mark, Yuito Suzuki put the hosts in front and Igor Matanović doubled their lead just before half time. Suzuki scored a further two goals in the second half (48’ & 54’). Dariusz Stalmach’s debut goal (77’) was unfortunately just a consolation.
FIRST-HALF HIGHLIGHTS The hosts score twice before the interval
Werder had already received bad news before kick off. With Jens Stage injured for several months, the Green-Whites have lost their top goalscorer from the previous two seasons. New signing Chuki stepped up to replace the experienced midfielder, making his Bundesliga debut. A further two new signings made it into Thioune’s starting XI, with Niclas Füllkrug making his Bundesliga return and Ludovit Reis making his Bundesliga debut. Right-back Mick Schmetgens also made his first start in the top flight.
Despite Stage’s untimely injury, the Green-Whites bravely pressed on, looking to catch the hosts on the break via wingers Marco Grüll and Justin Njinmah. Following a set piece, Amos Pieper’s shot from distance was SVW’s first sight of goal. The effort didn’t trouble Freiburg’s new signing and former Werder goalkeeper Mio Backhaus, however. Thioune’s side nevertheless showed aggression and the desire to win the second balls.
Despite Werder’s promising opening 15 minutes, it was the hosts who created the first real chances of the game. Former Werder player Maximilian Eggestein sent an attempt from around 20 yards out just wide. Following a corner, Igor Matanović had a close-range shot blocked. Freiburg increased the pressure and broke the deadlock following a corner, with Yuito Suzuki heading home (29’). After the goal, Schuster’s side took control of the game and pushed the Werder back line deeper and deeper. A long-range shot from Jan-Niklas Beste whistled over the bar (40’), before Matanović’s shot from outside the box left Werder keeper Karl Hein with no chance just before the break.
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SECOND-HALF HIGHLIGHTSSUZUKI SHOCKS WERDER AFTER THE BREAK
Head coach Daniel Thioune made a half-time change, bringing on another new signing and Bundesliga debutant, Dariusz Stalmach, to replace Senne Lynen. However, the hosts managed to retain their momentum from the first half, and a clinical finish from Suzuki put Freiburg 3-0 in front (48’).
The Japanese international wasn’t finished there, completing his hat-trick in the 54th minute, effectively putting the game beyond Werder within ten minutes of the restart. SVW didn’t give up, however, as Niclas Füllkrug had several chances shortly afterwards. Mio Backhaus or a blocking leg, however, ensured that the attempts remained unsuccessful.
Daniel Thioune then brought on anotther Bundesliga debutant, Cedric Itten, alongside Salim Musah to strengthen the attack during the last half an hour. There was still time for a debut goal for the Green-Whites, with Dariusz Stalmach in the perfect position to head home from a corner, making it 4-1 (77’).
SVW’s opening match of the season ultimately ended in a disappointing 4-1 defeat, which the Green-Whites will need to quickly move on from.
Werder will play their first home game of the season against RB Leipzig next Saturday (05/09 at 15:30 CEST).
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Match statistics
SC Freiburg: Backhaus - Kübler (69' Treu), Ginter, Lienhart (69' Rosenfelder), Makengo - M. Eggestein, Engelhardt - Beste (46' Irié), Suzuki (79' Goto), Scherhant - Matanović (73' Höler)
SV Werder: Hein - Schmetgens, Pieper, Friedl, Deman - Lynen (46' Stalmach), Reis (85' Čović), Chuki - Njinmah (61' Musah), Füllkrug (61' Itten), Grüll (85' Dinkçi)
Goals: 1-0 Suzuki (29'), 2-0 Matanović (45'), 3-0 Suzuki (48'), 4-0 Suzuki (54'), 4-1 Stalmach (77')
Yellow cards: Goto / Reis
Referee: Daniel Siebert
Spectators: 34,700 (sold out)
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