With his 13th competitive goal of the season on Thursday, Michael Gregorich played a crucial role in Freiburg’s early rise to the European League. The ÖFB striker scored 2-0 (71) against the French Cup winner Nantes, in the end the Germans won 4-0. Freiburg can no longer be left out of the top two places in Group G on its way to winning the group, which will be rewarded with direct entry into the Round of 16.
Philipp Leinhart has been active in the center of Freiburg’s defense all season, with Gregorich playing the Joker from the 65th minute. Lukas Kobler (26) gave the lead, but it was the Austrian who made a somewhat initial decision at the start of the final stage. After him, Kevin Shady (82) and Woo Young Jeong (87) also scored. With 12 points from four matches, Freiburg is ahead of Karabagh (7), Nantes (3) and Olympiacos Piraeus (1).
In Sturm-Graz-Group H there was no winner between Feyenoord Rotterdam of Gernot Trauner and Danish club Midtjylland before the evening game for Stirians in Lazio (2:2). Quentin Timber (32 minutes) and David Hanko (48 minutes) scored for the hosts from Holland, Emiliano Martinez (16) and Eric Svychenko (59) for the guests, as in the first leg last week there were 2: 2. All four teams have five points.
In addition to Freiburg, Fenerbahce Istanbul (2-1 in Larnaca) and Stade Rennes (1-0 against Dynamo Kyiv) in Group B got an early boarding ticket. Betis tied Sevilla 1-1 with its guest Roma in the third group to ensure an early lead. In Group E, Real Sociedad occupies the first and second places after beating Sherif Tiraspol 3-0, while Manchester United are certain to rise after beating Omonia Nicosia 1-0 at Old Trafford. Scott McTominay scored the decisive goal for the “Red Devils” in the 93rd minute.
In Group A, Arsenal (1-0 at Bodau/Glimt) and PSV Eindhoven (with Philippe Moeny 5-0 at home against FC Zurich) have the best chances of promotion. Union Berlin drew 1-0 at home against Malmö to move one point closer to second-placed Braga. Christopher Tremmel played with the winners. His compatriot Aleksandar Dragovic conceded a 2-1 tie with Ferencvaros in Pool H with Red Star Belgrade, and the Serbs slipped to last place.
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