This is the first time Dortmund have lost to Freiburg in Germany's top flight for 11 years, with Saturday's setback coming just four days after losing 3-1 to Bayern Munich in the German Super Cup.
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Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund were expected to make a soaring comeback following a defeat in the German Cup final against Bayern Munich. However, they were left stunned after goals from Vincenzo Grifo and Roland Sallai earned Freiburg a hard-fought first three points of the season. Recently appointed manager Marco Rose was further handed a first Bundesliga defeat as Borussia Dortmund head coach. The 2-1 loss records Dortmund’s first defeat against SC Freiburg in 11 years.
Grifo kicked off the farewell tour in fine style, in Freiburg’s third-from-last game at the Dreisamstadion. The Italy international fired home a stunning free-kick. He curled the ball in off a post from 30 yards out to hand his side the lead inside six minutes. The visitors had dictated possession for the opening minutes. The same momentum was maintained, despite Dortmund going behind. Jude Bellingham and Erling Haaland forced saves from Mark Flekken, before the 18-year-old Englishman came closest to scoring for Dortmund. Bellingham hit the post with his header from Gio Reyna’s corner, much to the agony of the fans.
Wooyeong Jeong should have put the home side two goals in front moments later. However, the footballer miscued his effort from right in front of goal. Nico Schulz came off injured before the break with Raphael Guerreiro on for his first appearance of the campaign. The opportunity handed to Jeong marked a rare chance for Freiburg in the last of a half which Dortmund dominated in terms of possession.
Freiburg came out in the second half with confidence and deservedly doubled their lead just eight minutes after the restart. A swift counter-attack sent Jeong down the left. The footballer’s cross found Lucas Holer in the middle who headed down for Sallai to thump home through a host of defenders. Six minutes later, and the game was back on after Yannik Keitel diverted the ball into his own net from Felix Passlack’s cross.
Dortmund continued to pile on the pressure. However, Freiburg’s defence performed outstandingly to keep Haaland and other attackers from creating clear-cut chances. Julian Brandt, Emre Can and Mats Hummels all came on for their first outings of the season. This did not prove enough as the visitors struggled to break through the Freiburg defence, suffering an unexpected defeat. Dortmund can take solace in the fact that they have now scored in 34 consecutive Bundesliga games, which is a new club record.
Freiburg: Flekken – Schmid, Lienhart, N. Schlotterbeck, Günter (c) – Keitel (Eggestein 86′), Höfler, Grifo (Kübler 84′) – Sallai (Schade 71′), Höler (Demirovic 71′), Jeong (Haberer 71′)
Unused subs: Uphoff, Heintz, K. Schlotterbeck, Weißhaupt
Out: Burkart (knock), Gulde (hip), Petersen (knee)
Coach: Christian Streich
Dortmund: Kobel – Passlack (Can 79′), Witsel (Hummels 79′), Akanji, Schulz (Guerreiro 38′) – Bellingham, Dahoud, Reyna (Brandt 71′) – Reus (c) – Haaland, Malen (Moukoko 79′)
Unused subs: Hitz, Delaney, Reinier, Wolf
Out: Coulibaly (knee), Hazard (ankle), Meunier (match fitness), Morey (knee), Schmelzer (knee), Zagadou (knee)
Coach: Marco Rose
