UEFA Europa League Gameweek 5
Plzen 0 - 0 FT SC Freiburg
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Futmetrix Verdict
58
FT
Sun, Sep 20
Deportivo La Coruna
1-1
Real Betis
⚡ Intensity
43
⚖️ Balance
44
🏆 Stakes
56
🎲 Upset
37
Late drama denies Betis away victory.
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Expected Goals (xG)
Passes
Pass Accuracy
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
45' Sampson Dweh
HT
46' ↓ M. Vydra ↑T. Ladra
↓ J. Adamu ↑I. Matanovic 46'
↓ V. Grifo ↑D. Scherhant 61'
↓ M. Eggestein ↑N. Hofler 69'
↓ Y. Suzuki ↑J. Manzambi 69'
Christian Günter 74'
Nicolas Höfler 81'
82' ↓ M. Valenta ↑A. Zeljkovic
↓ C. Gunter ↑P. Treu 83'
89' ↓ P. Adu ↑D. Visinsky
90'+1 Merchas Doski
90'+6 ↓ C. Souare ↑M. Havel
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
Plzen
Goalkeepers
Florian Wiegele 
OCTOPUS
6
Saves
6
Saves
0
Conceded
100%
Save %
Defenders
Sampson Dweh 
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
3
Tackles
58%
Duel Win %
Václav Jemelka 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Merchas Doski 
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
1
On Target
Midfielders
Amar Memić 
ARCHITECT
4
Key Passes
4
Key Passes
0
Assists
24%
Pass Acc
Matej Valenta
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
0
Assists
25%
Pass Acc
Lukáš Červ 
PROVOCATEUR
4
Fouls Won
4
Fouls Won
7
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Prince Adu
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Forwards
Matej Vydra
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
45
Total Mins
46
Entry
Cheick Souaré
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
0
Assists
22%
Pass Acc
Rafiu Durosinmi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
BENCH
Marián Tvrdoň 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Martin Jedlička
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Svetozar Marković
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Milan Havel
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
1
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Denis Višinský
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
1
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Adrian Zeljković
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
8
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Christophe Kabongo
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Tomáš Ladra
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
45
Total Mins
Started
Entry
James Bello
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
SC Freiburg
Goalkeepers
Noah Atubolu
OCTOPUS
7
Saves
7
Saves
0
Conceded
100%
Save %
Defenders
Lukas Kübler
PROVOCATEUR
2
Fouls Won
2
Fouls Won
7
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Matthias Ginter
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Philipp Lienhart
PROVOCATEUR
2
Fouls Won
2
Fouls Won
4
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Christian Günter
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
1
On Target
Midfielders
Maximilian Eggestein
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
69
Total Mins
69
Entry
Patrick Osterhage
PROVOCATEUR
4
Fouls Won
4
Fouls Won
9
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Jan-Niklas Beste
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Yuito Suzuki
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
69
Total Mins
69
Entry
Vincenzo Grifo
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
61
Total Mins
61
Entry
Forwards
Junior Adamu
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
45
Total Mins
46
Entry
BENCH
Florian Müller
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Jannik Huth
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Anthony Jung
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Philipp Treu
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
13
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Bruno Ogbus
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Nicolas Höfler
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
21
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Johan Manzambi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
21
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Derry Scherhant
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
29
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Lucas Höler
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Igor Matanović
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
45
Total Mins
Started
Entry
League Standings
P: 5 GD: +9
P: 5 GD: +7
P: 5 GD: +5
P: 5 GD: +5
P: 5 GD: +5
P: 5 GD: +4
P: 5 GD: +4
P: 5 GD: +3
P: 5 GD: +2
P: 5 GD: +4
P: 5 GD: +4
P: 5 GD: +4
P: 5 GD: +4
P: 5 GD: +2
P: 5 GD: +2
P: 5 GD: +4
P: 5 GD: +3
P: 5 GD: +3
P: 5 GD: +3
P: 5 GD: 0
P: 5 GD: -1
P: 5 GD: -1
P: 5 GD: -3
P: 5 GD: 0
P: 5 GD: -3
P: 5 GD: -5
P: 5 GD: -5
P: 5 GD: -3
P: 5 GD: -5
P: 5 GD: -5
P: 5 GD: -5
P: 5 GD: -5
P: 5 GD: -7
P: 5 GD: -8
P: 5 GD: -13
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Plzen
SC Freiburg
Plzen
SC Freiburg
Win Probability
Futmetrix AI estimate
The Unbreakable Walls of Plzen
Skip It Futmetrix Score: 15/100. This scoreless draw was a triumph of world-class goalkeeping over attacking intent, leaving both sides entrenched in the Europa League playoff picture.
Trading Blows Early
A perfectly balanced midfield battle set the tone immediately at Stadion Mesta Plzne, with Plzen and their German visitors fighting to a dead heat in possession. The Balance of the tie was evident as both sides committed bodies forward, eager to cement their status in the Europa League playoff spots without leaving the back door open. For the hosts, Cheick Souaré was a constant, driving creative force, weaving through lines and serving up key passes to spark the Czech side's attack. The visitors responded with methodical build-up play, testing the waters but finding the home defence well-drilled. Despite the probing attacks and fluid transitions from both units, neither team could immediately find the clinical edge required to break the deadlock in a fiercely contested, tactical first half.
A Defensive Masterclass
The narrative dramatically shifted from a midfield chess match to a breathtaking defensive masterclass. An exceptionally high Intensity defined the second act, characterised by a relentless barrage of 29 total shots shared between the sides. Yet, this European fixture belonged entirely to the men standing between the posts. SC Freiburg relied heavily on the sheer brilliance of Noah Atubolu, who delivered a colossal performance to repel seven targeted efforts and frustrate the home crowd. Not to be outdone, his Czech counterpart Florian Wiegele produced six spectacular saves of his own to keep the game level. Set-piece pressure mounted exponentially with 10 corners swung into the box, but the shot-stoppers commanded their areas with absolute authority, turning a potential goal-fest into a barren wasteland for frustrated strikers.
Sharing the European Spoils
As the final whistle echoed around the arena, the scoreboard remained blank, but the nil-nil scoreline thoroughly belied a genuinely gripping contest. The relatively modest Stakes meant neither side needed to panic in the dying moments, and the draw serves both teams remarkably well in the broader European context. Freiburg maintain their firm grip on seventh place, sitting comfortably within the Round of 16 playoff zone, while the Czech outfit hover securely in 14th to keep their own progression dreams alive. The complete lack of an Upset tonight reflects the sheer stubbornness of two well-drilled defensive units who simply refused to blink. Ultimately, a point apiece represents fair compensation for a night where attacking ambition was completely neutralised by goalkeeping excellence.
Key Questions
What made Noah Atubolu the Man of the Match?
The Freiburg goalkeeper was an impenetrable wall, delivering an extraordinary performance by making seven crucial saves to earn a hard-fought clean sheet away from home.
What is the Futmetrix Score?
The Futmetrix Score is our 0-100 verdict on how entertaining a match is. We look at intensity, balance, stakes, and star quality to tell you if it's worth your time.
Archive note: this preview was written after the match was played.
A Tense Battle for Europa League Progression
Skip It Futmetrix Score: 37/100. With both sides eyeing direct knockout qualification, a low-scoring chess match looms at Stadion Mesta Plzne.
The Setup
SC Freiburg travel to Czechia sitting comfortably in seventh place, right inside the coveted top-eight automatic qualification spots. Plzen, currently fourteenth, need a result to climb the table and avoid the precarious top-24 playoff scramble. A modest Stakes rating reflects the cushion both teams have in the league phase, but the Form metrics suggest a tight, gritty affair. Plzen remain unbeaten in the competition with three wins and five draws, conceding a staggering 0.2 goals per game. However, their home struggles—securing just one win in four attempts—blunt their edge. Freiburg arrive with five wins from eight and a potent attack, resulting in an upper-mid versus lower-table Balance dynamic.
Key Battle
We are closely watching a critical duel between the goalposts and the final third. Plzen goalkeeper Martin Jedlička has been an absolute wall, racking up 13 saves and two clean sheets across four European games. His sharp reflexes will be heavily tested by Freiburg's creative engine, Vincenzo Grifo. With a high Stars rating driving the narrative, Grifo’s ability to unlock a rigid defensive block will be the ultimate difference-maker.
Our Prediction
Freiburg possess the attacking quality to dominate possession, but Plzen’s defensive resilience is no fluke. We expect a hard-fought draw where clear-cut chances are at an absolute premium. A 1-1 stalemate keeps both sides firmly on track for the knockout phase without risking too much.