SC Freiburg are the only obstacle between Aston Villa and Europa League glory: here is everything you need to know about the Breisgau-Brazilians.
- Freiburg are making their first ever appearance in a major European final, their biggest achievement by far
- Manager Julian Schuster is just 41, in only his second season in charge of the club he captained for seven years
- Star winger Vincenzo Grifo has 14 goals and nine assists in 50 appearances this season
- The German side are currently seventh in the Bundesliga: 14 points off Champions League qualification
Where are they from? The city behind the club
SC Freiburg hail from Freiburg im Breisgau, a city of approximately 350,000 people nestled in the southwest corner of Germany, close to the French and Swiss borders and the entrance to the Black Forest. It is a university city with a strong environmental identity and a football club that has punched consistently above its weight for three decades.
Founded in 1904, Freiburg spent the majority of their early history in regional football before reaching the second division in 1979. Their first Bundesliga promotion arrived in 1994, and they finished third in only their second top-flight season, earning a place in the 1996 UEFA Cup. It was during that campaign that the nickname “Breisgau-Brazilians” was born: a tribute to their attractive, free-flowing style of play that belied their modest resources.
A club that defies convention
Freiburg’s story is one of consistent overachievement. They bounced between the top two German divisions for twenty years before securing promotion in 2016, and have remained in the Bundesliga ever since. Their highest ever league finish is third. They have won four second-division titles. They have never won a major trophy: the closest they came was as runners-up in the German Cup in 2022, losing to RB Leipzig.
Reaching the Europa League final in Istanbul represents comfortably the greatest achievement in the club’s 122-year history. Former Germany manager Joachim Löw played for the club in the 1980s. Newcastle United supporters may recognise former striker Papiss Cissé. The club has always attracted interesting talent without the financial firepower of Germany’s elite.
The Manager. Julian Schuster’s remarkable rise
Julian Schuster is one of European football’s most compelling managerial stories. The 41-year-old spent a decade as a player at Freiburg, captaining the club for seven years under the legendary Christian Streich. He stepped up as assistant before succeeding Streich in the dugout. In his first season he nearly guided the club to Champions League qualification. In his second, he has taken them to a European final.
That trajectory from loyal one-club servant to finalist manager within two seasons, mirrors the kind of story that neutral supporters across Europe will be cheering. However, Emery and Villa have their own history to make. Sentiment cannot be allowed to interfere with that.
Star Players. Grifo leads the threat
Vincenzo Grifo is Freiburg’s most dangerous and most decorated player. The left winger, born in Germany to Italian parents and a former Italy international, is the club’s all-time leading scorer and the Bundesliga’s highest-scoring Italian in history. His numbers this season are exceptional: 14 goals and nine assists across 50 appearances. Villa’s right-sided defensive unit must be specifically prepared for his threat throughout Thursday’s final [LINK].
Christian Günter, 33-year-old left-back and one-club man with 467 Freiburg appearances, provides experience and technical quality on the opposite flank. His eight Germany caps and unshakeable loyalty to the club make him one of German football’s most admirable figures.
Their Europa League journey. Earned the right to be here
Freiburg’s route to Istanbul has been impressive and thoroughly deserved. Their campaign included victories over Genk, Celta Vigo, who had been a target for several Premier League clubs including Villa, and Braga across the knockout stages. They lost the first leg of their semi-final against Braga 2-1 before reversing the tie in Germany to progress 4-3 on aggregate.
| Freiburg EL Knockout Stage | Result |
|---|---|
| R16 vs Genk (away) | L 1-0 |
| R16 vs Genk (home) | W 5-1 |
| QF vs Celta Vigo (home) | W 3-0 |
| QF vs Celta Vigo (away) | W 3-1 |
| SF vs Braga (away) | L 2-1 |
| SF vs Braga (home) | W 3-1 |
Currently seventh in the Bundesliga, with two games remaining and no realistic chance of European qualification through the league, Istanbul represents both the culmination of their season and the greatest occasion in the club’s history.
ReadAstonVilla Verdict
Respect Freiburg, absolutely. Fear them absolutely not. They are a wonderfully organised, technically competent side with a genuinely inspiring story. Grifo will be dangerous and Schuster will have them tactically prepared. However, Villa have Emery, the greatest Europa League manager in history: a squad that just produced one of its finest ever performances, and 30 years of hurt driving every single player on that pitch. Istanbul is Villa’s night
