SC Freiburg

SC Freiburg, based at the Europa-Park Stadion in Freiburg im Breisgau with a capacity of 34,700, finished sixth in the Bundesliga in 2021-22 to qualify for the UEFA Europa League for the first time in 26 years.

Freiburg is the model that every small-budget club in German football is measured against. Christian Streich managed the club for 12 years until stepping down in 2024 with a record of sustained Bundesliga presence built on youth development, intelligent recruitment, and a playing identity that consistently produced more than the wage budget suggested was possible. The club is located in the Black Forest region of Baden-Württemberg, 30 kilometres from the Swiss and French borders, and the Europa-Park Stadion, which opened in 2021, replaced a ground that had operated since 1954 and was the oldest main stadium in the Bundesliga.

The 2021-22 campaign reached the DFB-Pokal final, which Freiburg lost to Leipzig on penalties after a 1-1 draw. Nils Petersen, who retired from the club after a decade having become their all-time leading scorer, embodied what Streich built: a player who had options elsewhere, chose to stay, and became irreplaceable. His 81 Bundesliga goals for the club are a record that will stand for a generation.

Julian Schuster replaced Streich in 2024, inheriting both the playing style and the challenge of maintaining Bundesliga status with squads that other clubs would consider their reserve tier.

When does Freiburg play? Bundesliga fixtures at Europa-Park Stadion are typically 15:30 CET (UTC+1) on Saturdays. Freiburg is in the far southwest of Germany, 60 kilometres from Basel in Switzerland. A 15:30 CET kickoff means 14:30 GMT in London and 09:30 ET in New York. Check Freiburg time for live conversions. See the Bundesliga schedule.