SC Freiburg claimed a crucial 3-1 victory over Celta Vigo at the Estadio Abanca Balaídos on Thursday, driven by a clinical double from Yuito Suzuki.
Entering this Europa League clash, both sides sought to climb the table. Celta Vigo arrived with three points from two games, while SC Freiburg held four, looking to solidify their position in the standings.
The visitors broke the deadlock in the 33rd minute. Igor Matanović found the net, silencing the home crowd and shifting the momentum firmly toward the German side.
Freiburg doubled their advantage quickly. Just six minutes later, in the 39th minute, Yuito Suzuki struck to punish the Celta defense, extending the lead to 2-0.
Tensions flared just before the interval. Both Igor Moriba and Igor Matanović received yellow cards in the 45th minute, reflecting the intense and physical nature of the contest.
The halftime break offered Celta Vigo a chance to regroup. The hosts trailed by two and needed a rapid response to salvage anything from this European fixture.
Any hope of a comeback suffered an early blow after the restart. In the 50th minute, Suzuki netted his second goal of the night, effectively putting the game out of reach at 3-0.
The match became increasingly scrappy as the second half progressed. Yellow cards for Iago Aspas, Matías Vecino, and Matthias Ginter highlighted the frustration mounting on the pitch.
Celta finally found a breakthrough in stoppage time. Williot Swedberg scored in the 91st minute, but his effort served only as a late consolation for the home side.
Statistically, the game presented a fascinating contrast. Celta Vigo controlled 56 percent of the possession and generated 1.23 expected goals (xG), yet they struggled to convert that dominance into meaningful threats.
Freiburg proved far more efficient. Despite having less of the ball, they registered six shots on target compared to just two from the hosts, proving that quality finishing ultimately decided the outcome.
This result pushes SC Freiburg further up the table, leaving Celta Vigo to reflect on missed opportunities. Both teams will now turn their focus to domestic league duties before returning to European action.
