Freiburg flatten Schalke as Gregoritsch runs riot

After an all-important win over Hertha last weekend, Schalke made the trip to Breisgau this afternoon. A challenge of a different magnitude awaited Thomas Reis’ team – a rake of injuries for ‘Die Knappen’ and the Champions League chasing Freiburg to contend with. Streich’s side would put the Schalke to the sword in the end. A first-half brace from Michael Gregoritsch set them on their way to a 4-0 victory.

It took all of 8 minutes for Freiburg to hit the front. Ritsu Dōan looked threatening from the off and it was his decisive pass that set up Gregoritsch. The Austrian took it in his stride to sweep the ball home at Schwolow’s near post. Grifo came close to doubling the host’s lead minutes later in what was a dominant quarter for the Breisgauers.

Gregoritsch doubled his and Freiburg’s tally when he made it 2-0 with ten minutes left in the half. Lukas Kübler whipped a delightful ball into the Schalke box. The deftest of touches from the eagle-eyed Austrian was enough to beat Schwolow for a second time. Streich’s outfit in cruise control at the interval.

Reis introduced Frey and Greiml after the break but to little avail. Freiburg’s Höler capitalised on a poor Uronen clearance to make it 3-0 on 52 minutes. Just after the hour mark, Gregoritsch had a chance to bag his hattrick – Schwolow, deputising for the injured Fährmann, was able to react in time.

Fellow Austrian Lienhart came close to bagging his side’s fourth before Streich replaced the big guns – Grifo, Gregoritsch, and Dōan all called ashore. However, it would be his centre-half partner Mathias Ginter who tapped home for 4-0. Skipper, Christian Günter’s corner found Merlin Röhl who in turn set up the German international. A routine victory in the end for a Gregoritsch-inspired Freiburg.

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