By Our Sports Correspondent
SC Freiburg (2) 3
Grifo 10, Beste 32, Ginter 78
Celta Vigo (0) 0
VINCENZO GRIFO cemented his status as a living legend as Freiburg took a massive step toward their first-ever European semi-final by dismantling Celta Vigo.
The German outfit turned the Europa-Park Stadion into a fortress once again, leaving the Spaniards without so much as a single shot on target in a dominant 3-0 display.
It took just ten minutes for the “Breisgau Brazilians” to find their rhythm. Italian maestro Grifo—the club’s all-time record scorer—picked up a neat tee-up from 20-year-old starlet Johan Manzambi and unleashed a trademark curling beauty into the far corner.
Celta, who arrived as the competition’s top scorers, looked like a deer in the headlights. Their misery doubled after the half-hour mark when Igor Matanovic showed selfless vision to square for Niklas Beste, who couldn’t miss from six yards out.
GINTER’S GLORY
The second half was a “perfect game” according to German icon Lothar Matthäus, and he wasn’t wrong. At the heart of it all was Matthias Ginter, who proved he is far from finished on the international stage.
After marshalling a backline that completely nullified the Spanish attack, Ginter popped up at the other end in the 78th minute. He rose highest to thunder home a header from Beste’s corner, putting one foot firmly in the final four.
Freiburg boss Julian Schuster hailed his veteran defender, saying: “The way he played couldn’t have been better. He inspired everyone.”
Celta now face a mountain higher than the Black Forest if they want to overturn this in the second leg at the Balaídos. On this evidence, they’ll need a miracle.
STAR MAN
Matthias Ginter (Freiburg)
