(Bundesliga 2022/2023): Highlights Freiburg - Stuttgart

Assistant coach Lars Vössler found himself on the touchline for this one in charge after Christian Streich had seen red the week before as Freiburg got a hammering adornment. Bruno Labbadia's point-hungry Stuttgart were the opposition in this southwest Germany derby. Despite two heavy away losses, Freiburg were still enjoying their best campaign at this stage in 30 years. Back in the starting lineup for the first time in 15 matchdays, Roland Solai celebrated his 100th Bundesliga game with an early shot against standing keeper Fabian Bregel. Stuttgart without a win in 2023 looked composed and when the chance came for a shot after 30 minutes, Chris Führer embraced it fully. A long-range pile driver avoided Mark Flecken to make it 1-0. Flecken, the keeper with the most clean sheets to this point, was well beaten by the well-placed shot. For Führer, it was his fourth goal of the campaign and a personal best. For Lars Vössler, it was a less than satisfying end to the half. After the break, Freiburg found it difficult to get shooting chances until Stuttgart helped them out. First, just before the half-hour mark, Dan-Axel Zagadou in his first game of 2023 fouled Michel Grigoric in the box. After a check with the video assistant referee, Sascha Stegemann pointed to the spot. Vincenzo Grifo, Freiburg's penalty taker-designate, made short work of grabbing the equaliser. Bredlo had only faced two Bundesliga penalties prior to this one and had saved them both, but not this time. 20 minutes later, Lightning struck twice, or rather, Zagadou did. This time, he brought down Litz Dohan as he tried to skip into the box. Referee Stegemann again referred to the video assistant referee and the result was the same. Penalty. Grifo stepped up once more and crashed the ball past Bredlo in a similar confident manner as the previous one. His sixth goal from seven penalties in the campaign, like Führer's, his strike bringing him a personal best. To the relief of Lars Vössler, Freiburg won for the first time without Christian Streich on the touchline, as Bruno Labbadia's Stuttgart made it 20 away games without a win.