SC Freiburg gets its biggest night in Europe on Thursday at 21:00 Uhr, when it faces Sporting Braga in the second leg of the Europa League semifinal. After losing the first leg in Portugal 1-2, Freiburg must win by at least two goals to reach the final.
A home win would take freiburg fc into the first European final in club history, with the Europa League title match set for 20 May in Istanbul. The prize for getting there is more than a place on the biggest stage in the club’s history: UEFA would pay seven million euros for reaching the final.
Julian Schuster did not talk like a coach preparing for a special occasion. He said the team does not need special measures and can trust its usual routines, adding, “Es sind eh schon so besondere Umstände, deshalb benötigen wir vor allem auch von unserer Herangehensweise nichts Besonderes, sondern können unseren gewohnten Abläufen vertrauen.” He also said, “Allen anderen ist es maximal erlaubt, dieses Spiel so groß wie möglich zu machen,” and “Es sei das Schöne am Fußball, dass er verbinde.”
That calm tone stands in contrast to the size of the moment outside the dressing room. The club says interest has been unusually strong, with people asking about tickets more often on the street. Julian Nagelsmann was not expected at the stadium on Thursday according to club information, and Schuster brushed off the question, saying, “Verzeiht mir, dass ich mir keine Gedanken über den Terminkalender des Bundestrainers mache” and “Von daher wird das uns auch nicht helfen, wenn er da ist oder nicht da ist.”
Matthias Ginter sounded more direct about what Freiburg needs to do. “Einfach ins Machen kommen. Ich wünsche es mir einfach, vor allem für die Leute, dass sie das Gefühl mal bekommen, einen Titel zu gewinnen,” he said. For Noah Atubolu, the stakes are also personal: if Freiburg reaches the final, he could win his first and last title with the club. If the team gets through, it will face Nottingham Forest or Aston Villa in Istanbul. For Freiburg, the math is simple and brutal. One goal is not enough. Two would send the club into uncharted territory.
