SC Freiburg - Motherwell FC: the return leg leading to the league phase
SC Freiburg and Motherwell FC meet at the Europa-Park Stadion in Freiburg in the second leg of the Conference League play-offs. According to the current schedule published by both clubs, the match on 27 August starts at 18:45. This is an important correction compared with earlier information stating a kick-off time of 19:00.
The stakes are very clear: the winner of the two-legged tie will secure a place in the league phase of the competition. The final scenario for the return leg will depend on the result of the first match in Motherwell, which is played on 20 August. At the time this guide was prepared, that first encounter had not yet been played, which is why there is no point in stating in advance whether Freiburg will need to defend a lead, chase a deficit or start from a level aggregate score.
On paper, SC Freiburg enter the tie as favourites. The German team finished last season in seventh place in the Bundesliga and at the same time reached a European final, in which Aston Villa defeated them 3-0. Motherwell, on the other hand, have already overcome two qualifying hurdles this summer and arrive with more competitive minutes under their belts.
Tickets for this match are in demand among supporters. For Freiburg, this is an opportunity to continue another European season in front of their own fans, while Motherwell are trying to produce one of their most significant international results of recent years.
How Freiburg and Motherwell reached this tie
SC Freiburg did not have to play in the previous qualifying rounds. Julian Schuster's team entered the play-offs thanks to their placing in last season's Bundesliga. Therefore, the away match in Motherwell is also Freiburg's first competitive match of the 2026/27 season.
The preparations nevertheless provided several serious tests. Freiburg played their final warm-up match against Crystal Palace at the Europa-Park Stadion and won 3-0. Yannik Engelhardt, Lucas Höler and Derry Scherhant scored the goals, and Julian Schuster particularly highlighted the team's discipline without the ball and the small number of chances the opposition managed to create.
A few days earlier, Freiburg played two matches against Racing Strasbourg and won both 2-0. In one of those matches, Lucas Höler scored both goals. There were also warnings during pre-season, including a 3-0 defeat to Greuther Fürth, but the final part of the preparation period was considerably more convincing.
Motherwell are in a completely different rhythm. The Scottish team already have European qualifiers, league matches and a cup match behind them. In the second qualifying round, Motherwell recorded 2-0 and 3-0 victories against Havnar Bóltfelag of the Faroe Islands.
The next obstacle was HJK Helsinki. After a 1-1 draw in Finland, Motherwell won 2-0 at Fir Park and advanced 3-1 on aggregate. Ibrahim Said scored both goals in the return leg and has become one of the Scottish club's key players on their European journey.
In the domestic championship, Motherwell had four points after the opening two rounds and were in third place in the table. The first more serious setback of the new season came in the cup, where Stenhousemuir defeated Motherwell 1-0 after extra time. Coach Alfred Johansson made eight changes to the starting line-up compared with the European victory against HJK.
Motherwell's European journey so far
- Motherwell - Havnar Bóltfelag 2-0
- Havnar Bóltfelag - Motherwell 0-3
- HJK Helsinki - Motherwell 1-1
- Motherwell - HJK Helsinki 2-0
Such a run shows why Freiburg cannot treat Motherwell as an opponent who will sit back and simply wait for the tie to end. The Scottish team did not lose in their four European matches before Freiburg, and they looked particularly convincing in their two home victories.
SC Freiburg's key players
Vincenzo Grifo remains one of the central figures in the team. Shortly before the start of the competitive season, Freiburg announced that they had extended the contract of the 33-year-old attacking player. Grifo has already made 360 competitive appearances for the club and holds the club records for goals and assists.
The problem for Motherwell is that Freiburg do not depend on just one source of danger. Yuito Suzuki scored nine goals in his first season at the club, while Igor Matanovic finished last season with 15 goals. In the final pre-season match against Crystal Palace, Freiburg also created danger through Engelhardt, Scherhant and Höler.
Julian Schuster also has enough options to change the team's structure during the match. Against Crystal Palace, he used a large number of players, and the team retained control after the substitutions and scored two more goals.
Set pieces represent a special area. Grifo's quality from free kicks and corners means that Motherwell must be very careful when committing fouls in their own defensive third. Freiburg also scored against Strasbourg after a situation similar to one created by Grifo - a set piece from the flank ended with Höler's headed effort.
Why Ibrahim Said and Tawanda Maswanhise are important for Motherwell
If there is one player who has defined Motherwell's recent European days, it is Ibrahim Said. The Nigerian forward scored both goals against HJK Helsinki in the return leg. For the first, he exploited the space and finished an individual move, while for the second he again attacked the defence with a direct run towards goal.
His speed and ability to carry the ball towards the last line will be particularly important if Freiburg leave space behind their advanced full-backs. Schuster warned before the first match specifically about Motherwell's pace in the front line.
Tawanda Maswanhise is another name Freiburg must keep an eye on. Freiburg's analysis of the opposition states that Maswanhise finished last season with 17 goals. His pace was already evident against HJK, when he repeatedly broke through the first line of pressure with individual runs.
Motherwell under Alfred Johansson do not want simply to clear the ball and wait for an opponent's mistake. Schuster emphasised that the Scottish team like to have possession and combine, but at the same time they have pace going forward. It is precisely that combination that could cause problems for Freiburg if the home side start forcing attacks with large numbers of players too early.
Absences and squad situation
The injury situation must be viewed cautiously because it may change before the return leg. Motherwell confirmed several problems ahead of the first match. Oscar Priestman and Johnny Koutroumbis have workload-related injuries, and Alfred Johansson said that they would be out for a certain period of time. Tom Sparrow is also having problems after taking a knock against Falkirk and his status is being assessed day by day.
Eythor Bjørgolfsson and Apostolos Stamatelopoulos returned to training, but according to information from the club they were not ready for the first match. New forward Seb Palmer-Houlden joined Motherwell immediately before the match against Freiburg, so his status for the remainder of the tie will also depend on registration and physical readiness.
For Freiburg, the situation ahead of the first match was more stable. Lucas Höler did not travel to Scotland for family reasons, while Rouven Tarnutzer, Karl Steinmann and Rihito Yamamoto were also absent from the squad for that away match. That does not automatically mean they will also be unavailable for the return leg in Freiburg, so their status should be checked closer to the match.
How the match could develop tactically
Much will be determined by the result of the first match. If Freiburg bring a lead back to Germany, the home side will have no need to turn the game into an uncontrolled exchange of attacks. If Motherwell have a positive result from Fir Park, a completely different level of pressure from the home side is expected.
Freiburg's basic idea is nevertheless fairly clear. The team want to build attacks from the back line, maintain their structure in possession and quickly press the opposition after losing the ball. After the victory against Crystal Palace, Schuster was particularly pleased with the work without the ball and the fact that his team allowed the opposition almost no chances.
Motherwell's task will be to play through that first press. Said and Maswanhise can punish the space if they get it, while Johansson will have to find a way for his team to keep the ball long enough to prevent the entire match from being played in front of their own penalty area.
The tempo will also be important for Freiburg. The Europa-Park Stadion often gives the home side energy for an aggressive start, but a return leg requires more patience than an ordinary league match. One unnecessary early risk can completely change the tie.
Europa-Park Stadion and the atmosphere of the return leg
The Europa-Park Stadion has a capacity of 34,700 spectators. The stadium has 22,800 seated and 11,900 standing places, while the Südtribüne is a single-tier stand that can accommodate up to 8,000 Freiburg supporters. The compact stands and their proximity to the pitch are among the main elements of the stadium experience.
Motherwell are also expecting serious support. The Scottish club have been allocated more than 2,000 tickets for the away sections for the return leg. That is a large enough number for the travelling supporters to be heard, especially in a European match in which one goal can completely change the balance of power.
Freiburg already had 29,000 spectators at the stadium during their final pre-season match against Crystal Palace. A return leg that directly decides whether the European season continues carries an even greater competitive intensity.
It is worth securing tickets in good time. According to information from Motherwell, the stadium and ticket offices for away supporters open two hours before kick-off, so arriving early also makes sense because of the expected traffic around the stadium.
How to get to the Europa-Park Stadion
SC Freiburg recommend arriving by public transport, bicycle or a combination of parking farther away from the stadium and continuing the journey by public transport. Traffic arrangements on matchdays restrict access for cars without parking secured in advance.
- The match ticket includes public transport within the RVF area during the period valid for travelling to the stadium and returning.
- Tram and rail connections run to the stadium, with additional services on matchdays.
- There are 3,700 bicycle parking spaces around the Europa-Park Stadion.
- The stadium parking zones have approximately 2,100 spaces, but they require a parking permit secured in advance.
- Public transport and Park & Ride options are recommended for visitors without stadium parking.
Freiburg Messe/Universität railway station is approximately a ten-minute walk from the stadium, while special public transport on matchdays further reduces road traffic. Visitors arriving by car should expect restrictions around Suwonallee several hours before the start of the match.
For away supporters, it is particularly useful to know that a bag drop facility is available at entrance E4. Both the stadium and the ticket offices open two hours before the start of the match.
Freiburg as a city for visiting supporters
Freiburg im Breisgau is located in south-western Germany, between the Rhine Plain and the slopes of the Black Forest. For supporters staying longer than just the time of the match, the historic centre is located around Freiburger Münster and Münsterplatz, while the distinctive small water channels running through the streets of the old town are one of Freiburg's recognisable features.
The main railway station is located close to the city centre and is well connected to the city's tram and bus network. This means that a car is not necessary either for exploring the city or for getting to the match.
For a visitor coming for only one day, a combination of the city centre and the stadium is practical: a few hours in the old town, followed by a journey towards the Europa-Park Stadion by public transport. Because the largest number of supporters begin moving towards the stadium in the final hours before the match, leaving earlier reduces the risk of congestion.
What to follow immediately before kick-off
The first thing will, of course, be the aggregate score after the match in Motherwell. It will determine almost everything - Freiburg's level of risk, Motherwell's willingness to press high and the importance of the first goal in the return leg.
The second is Motherwell's line-up. Priestman, Koutroumbis and Sparrow had fitness problems before the first match, while Bjørgolfsson and Stamatelopoulos are returning towards full training. Their status can change the depth of Johansson's squad.
The third is Freiburg's attacking line-up. Grifo, Suzuki and Matanovic offer different profiles, while Schuster has enough depth to change the match from the bench. Derry Scherhant and Yannik Engelhardt showed against Crystal Palace that they can bring energy and a goal after substitutions.
- the result of the first match at Fir Park
- the status of Motherwell's injured players
- Freiburg's selection in the attacking line
- Motherwell's ability to play out of a high press
- set pieces and Grifo's quality in the final third
Ticket sales for this match are ongoing. For supporters travelling to Freiburg, the most important thing is to plan their arrival before the largest crowds, check the final information about entrances and transport, and allow enough time for security checks.
Sources:
- SC Freiburg - current schedule of the tie, match preview, pre-season matches, statement by Julian Schuster, information about Vincenzo Grifo and information about the Europa-Park Stadion and travel to the stadium.
- Motherwell Football Club - current schedule of the return leg, squad and injury situation, matches against HJK Helsinki and Stenhousemuir, European results, information for away supporters and stadium opening times.
- Bundesliga - context of the play-offs, Freiburg's placing from last season and the stakes of the tie for entry into the league phase.
- Freiburg Tourism - location of the city, old town, Freiburger Münster, connections from the main railway station and the city's context for visitors.