SC Freiburg vs Werder Bremen tickets for the Bundesliga at Europa-Park Stadion and matchday fan guide

SC Freiburg and Werder Bremen start from different positions

SC Freiburg and SV Werder Bremen open the 2026/27 Bundesliga season with a head-to-head match at the Europa-Park Stadion. Kick-off is on Sunday, 30 August at 15:30, and the very first round already brings several clear storylines: Freiburg enter the league as last season's seventh-placed team, Werder after a battle in the lower part of the table, while both clubs are changing important parts of their squads in August.

Freiburg finished the previous Bundesliga season in 7th place with 47 points, while Werder were 15th with 32 points. That is why there is no current table in the first round yet that could describe form, but the end of last season, summer changes and the first competitive matches in August provide the initial picture.

The hosts also enter the match after a very congested schedule. Freiburg beat Motherwell 3-1 away on 20 August in the first leg of the Conference League play-offs, play a cup match against Fortuna Düsseldorf on 23 August, and then face Motherwell again in the return leg on 27 August. Coach Julian Schuster therefore has to manage the minutes of almost the entire squad ahead of the Bundesliga opener. Werder already completed their cup assignment on 22 August with a 3-0 victory against Lüneburger SK Hanse.

For supporters planning a trip to Freiburg, it is worth securing tickets in good time, especially because this is the first home league fixture of the new season.

Freiburg's rhythm is already competitive

The most useful indication of Freiburg's current situation comes from the away match at Motherwell. Schuster's team conceded early, but responded without losing its structure and turned the match around to win 3-1. Matthias Ginter scored twice, first with a header after a delivery from Derry Scherhant, and then from the penalty spot. Keisuke Goto completed the scoring after a corner from Vincenzo Grifo.

That match showed two things that Werder will have to defend against very seriously. Freiburg have several players capable of delivering quality set pieces, while centre-back Ginter remains a genuine threat in the penalty area. Alongside Grifo and Scherhant, Yuito Suzuki, Niklas Beste and Igor Matanovic are important in the final third. Against Motherwell, Matanovic started as the central striker, while Suzuki operated behind him.

In midfield, Schuster used Maximilian Eggestein and Yannik Engelhardt, while Jordy Makengo, Max Rosenfelder, Ginter and Philipp Treu played in front of goalkeeper Mijo Backhaus. That does not guarantee an identical line-up against Werder because Freiburg also have a cup match between their two European fixtures, but it provides a sufficiently clear picture of the current roles.

In terms of personnel, the confirmed information that Florent Muslija is injured is important. Ahead of the cup match against Fortuna Düsseldorf, Schuster also emphasised how demanding a run of four competitive matches in ten days is. Because of that, freshness and the ability to rotate could be just as important as the choice of the starting eleven.

What Freiburg are currently doing well

• Set pieces create a genuine threat - Ginter scored against Motherwell following a set-piece delivery, while Goto scored after Grifo's corner.
• The team responded after falling behind early in Motherwell and maintained control of the match all the way to the 3-1 turnaround.
• Variety in attacking roles comes through Grifo, Beste, Scherhant and Suzuki, allowing Schuster to change player profiles without completely changing the idea.
• The competitive rhythm is already high, but the same schedule increases the importance of recovery before the league starts.

Werder have gained a new central figure in attack

Werder enter the new season with Daniel Thioune on the bench and a very familiar returning player leading the attack. Niclas Füllkrug has returned to Bremen on a one-year loan from West Ham. He already scored from the penalty spot in the cup victory against Lüneburger SK Hanse, while Jens Stage and Ludovit Reis scored the other two goals.

The starting line-up from that match also provides a good reference point. Alexander Schlager was in goal, Marco Friedl and Amos Pieper in the last line, Senne Lynen in front of the defence, while Stage and Reis played in central midfield. Justin Njinmah and Samuel Mbangula provided pace around Füllkrug. Werder had the expected initiative against lower-league opposition, but for the Freiburg match it is more important that the key summer additions immediately received competitive minutes.

Füllkrug's return changes the way opponents can defend against Werder. Bremen once again have a striker who can hold up the ball with his back to goal, attack crosses and create space for players arriving from deeper positions. Stage has long been dangerous with late runs into the penalty area, while Reis brings additional technical quality in midfield.

A special storyline connected with this match is Eren Dinkçi. Werder brought him in on a one-year loan from Freiburg on 17 August. At the time of his arrival he had muscular problems, and the club then stated that his involvement against Lüneburger and in the league opener against Freiburg was doubtful. If he recovers in time, he could very quickly play against the club that still owns him.

The recent head-to-head run strongly favours Freiburg

The short-term history of this fixture is heavily in favour of the hosts. Freiburg have won the last four league meetings between the sides, and Werder did not score in any of those four. The last five meetings look like this:

• SC Freiburg 1-0 Werder Bremen - 7 February 2026.
• Werder Bremen 0-3 SC Freiburg - 20 September 2025.
• SC Freiburg 5-0 Werder Bremen - 21 February 2025.
• Werder Bremen 0-1 SC Freiburg - 5 October 2024.
• Werder Bremen 3-1 SC Freiburg - 27 January 2024.

That, however, is not the entire history of the fixture. The DFB Datencenter records 25 Werder wins, 17 Freiburg wins and 10 draws across a total of 52 matches. In other words, the long-term record still belongs to Bremen, but the current run is completely reversed. Thioune's first task is to end a streak in which his team have failed to score against Freiburg in four matches.

Tactical points that could decide the match

Freiburg will have to find a balance between energy and control. The team have four competitive appearances in ten days from Motherwell to Werder, so an aggressive start without good rhythm management could prove costly. On the other hand, the hosts have shown in their current system that they can create chances from set pieces and that they have several players capable of producing a quality final pass.

Werder will probably try to use Füllkrug as a focal point for playing out of pressure. If Freiburg push their defensive line higher, Njinmah and Mbangula can attack the space around or behind it. If the hosts remain deeper, Füllkrug's play in the penalty area and Stage's runs from deeper positions become more important.

The most interesting individual duel could come in the air and in the battle for second balls around Füllkrug and Ginter. Both provide physical presence, but they are also important in the opposition penalty area. Freiburg's set piece against Motherwell offered immediate proof of how dangerous Ginter can be, while Füllkrug scored straight away in his first competitive match after returning.

Another important point will be control of the centre. Eggestein and Engelhardt give Freiburg's play stability, while Werder have a combination of positional discipline, running and forward arrivals into the penalty area through Lynen, Stage and Reis. The team that wins more second balls in that area will find it easier to dictate where the match is played.

Europa-Park Stadion gives Freiburg a compact home setting

Europa-Park Stadion has a capacity of 34,700 spectators. The stands are positioned close to the pitch, while the combination of seated and standing sections gives the stadium a more compact feel than many larger Bundesliga arenas. For the first-round match, the most important thing is that visitors do not rely on the old Dreisamstadion address at Schwarzwaldstraße 193.

For Europa-Park Stadion, the address Achim-Stocker-Straße 1, 79108 Freiburg im Breisgau should be used. Schwarzwaldstraße 193 belongs to Dreisamstadion, the former home of the first team. That distinction is important for navigation, taxis and planning an arrival by car.

The atmosphere will carry additional weight because Freiburg will appear in front of their home supporters for the first time in the new Bundesliga season following summer changes and their European start. Werder, meanwhile, arrive with Füllkrug, one of the most recognisable returning players of the summer, so the match already has enough strong sporting storylines without any need to manufacture additional drama.

If you plan to be in the stands, it is advisable to organise your ticket and transport earlier and arrive at the stadium with enough time for entry checks.

Arrival, parking and entry to the stadium

For visitors, the most important thing is to distinguish between what can be done spontaneously and what needs to be arranged in advance. For home matches, SC Freiburg strongly directs traffic towards public transport, bicycles and parking spaces reserved in advance.

• The entrances to Europa-Park Stadion open two hours before kick-off, so for a 15:30 start the standard opening time is expected to be 13:30.
• For arrival by public transport, connections towards the Messe area and the Europa-Park Stadion stop are used, followed by a short walk to the stadium.
• For cars, the P1-P9 parking areas are used. A parking space must be reserved in advance because parking permits are not sold at the stadium on match day.
• There are 3,700 bicycle spaces available in the stadium area, making this a practical option for visitors staying in Freiburg.
• Access to Suwonallee by car without the appropriate parking permit is closed four hours before kick-off.

When planning entry, bag checks should also be taken into account. For away supporters, the club specifically recommends leaving larger bags and backpacks on the bus, in the car or in storage because storage capacity at the stadium is limited. The simplest option is to arrive with a minimum of belongings and avoid unnecessary delays at security checks.

For those arriving by rail, Freiburg Hauptbahnhof is the natural entry point into the city, with the journey towards the Messe area and the stadium continuing by local public transport. Europa-Park Stadion is located in the north-western part of Freiburg, next to the exhibition grounds, so it is not in the same location as Dreisamstadion on Schwarzwaldstraße.

What to follow in the days before the match

Several things can still change before the first whistle. Freiburg have two competitive obligations before facing Werder, so the condition of the squad after the cup match and the return leg against Motherwell will be more important than any early projection of the starting line-up. Werder have already completed their cup fixture, but Dinkçi's status remains one of the clear personnel issues.

• How much Freiburg's key players will play against Fortuna Düsseldorf and Motherwell before the league starts.
• Whether Florent Muslija will recover from his injury status by the time of the match.
• Whether Eren Dinkçi will recover from his muscular problems quickly enough to play against Freiburg.
• Whether Thioune will start with Füllkrug again following his goal in the cup.
• How much Schuster will rotate the defence and midfield after a run of matches in a short period.

For travelling supporters, the most useful approach is to make a final check of the line-ups, traffic information and entry conditions immediately before departure. The sporting picture is already interesting: Freiburg are defending a run of four consecutive victories over Werder, Bremen arrive with a new coach and the return of Füllkrug, while the hosts will try to turn their competitive rhythm into an advantage rather than fatigue. It is worth securing tickets in good time and leaving enough room in the schedule for the journey to the stadium.

Sources:
- Bundesliga - 2026/27 first-round schedule, final 2025/26 table, head-to-head run, Werder's cup match and information on the return of Niclas Füllkrug and the loan of Eren Dinkçi.
- SC Freiburg - report from the first match against Motherwell, schedule, comments from Julian Schuster, Florent Muslija's status and information about Europa-Park Stadion, entry, transport and parking.
- ZDF - Werder's line-up and the course of the cup victory against Lüneburger SK Hanse.
- DFB Datencenter - overall head-to-head record and results of the last five matches between Freiburg and Werder.