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Michael Gregoritsch (right) lost with SC Freiburg Piraeus, but can still be happy about his club's record in the European Cup
Photo: Tom Weller / dpa
SC Freiburg has lost its impeccable Europa League record so far this season, but still has reason to be happy.
In the home game against Olympiacos Piraeus, Christian Streich's team managed to draw 1-1 (0-1) thanks to a final offensive and is the early winner of Group G.
Youssef El-Arabi (17th minute) gave the Greeks the lead, and Lukas Kübler equalized in added time (90'+2').
Freiburg still pressed for victory, Olympiakos' defender Ousseynou Ba saw yellow-red (90 + 5), but the draw remained.
SC Freiburg started the match day as the most successful team in the Europa League so far: Four games, twelve points, 11:1 goals read the impressive record of Christian Streich's team.
That promised a lot for the home game against the still winless Piraeus, but the game could not keep these promises from Freiburg's point of view.
Instead, the Greeks, who have been without late-registered star arrivals such as former Real Madrid pros Marcelo and James Rodriguez in Europe, were the more dangerous team.
First Freiburg goalkeeper Mark Flekken parried in dire need against Pep Biel, but in the margin El-Arabi dusted off to take the lead (17th).
The big chance to make it 2-0 was missed a little later by Giorgos Masouras, who only hit the side netting instead of an empty goal (23').
A loss that doesn't hurt
Because Freiburg, for their part, had difficulties creating chances, the deficit at the break was okay.
After almost an hour, the sports club gradually found its rhythm.
Kübler's shot forced Alexandros Paschalakis to make a save (59'), a combination of Daniel-Kofi Kyereh and Ritsu Doan (61') a little later created another threat in the Greek penalty area.
Paschalakis also parried the attempt by Joker Nils Petersen (77') and Jeong Woo-yeong's header (88').
Then Kübler headed the overdue equalizer (90+2).
The result proved to be irrelevant for the table in Group G: Freiburg were qualified anyway, because pursuer Qarabag Agdam can no longer equal or even pass them after a defeat against Nantes, the group win is also certain ahead of time.
In this way, Freiburg escaped the teams that were relegated from the Champions League to the Europa League in the round of sixteen.
In the final game against Qarabag on November 3 (6.45 p.m., stream: RTL +) it is no longer about anything sporty for the Breisgauer.
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