© Grafik: FC Bayern
Fixtures between Bayern and Freiburg have become a regular occurrence since the latter’s maiden Bundesliga promotion in 1993, producing some legendary moments down the years, from Jürgen Klinsmann taking his anger out on a barrel to legends bowing out and Robert Lewandowski’s history-making goal. Here are seven of the best ahead of Saturday’s latest encounter in the Black Forest.
10 May 1997: Klinsmann vs. the barrel
Jürgen Klinsmann was less than pleased at being subbed off against Freiburg. | © Imago
Bundesliga leaders and eventual champions Bayern hosted a Freiburg side on the verge of relegation late in the 1996/97 season. But things didn’t go according to the form book as the Munich men struggled and it remained goalless into the closing stages of the game. Coach Giovanni Trapattoni opted for a change and introduced Carsten Lakies of the reserves for the only 10 minutes he would ever play for Bayern’s first team. The striker was brought on for Jürgen Klinsmann, who was not pleased with the change and took out his frustration with a powerful kick into a Sanyo advertising barrel. It became an iconic moment and turned a goalless draw into one of the Bundesliga’s most memorable games.
12 April 2000: The golf ball incident
The April 2000 encounter with Freiburg was suspended for several minutes as Oliver Kahn received treatment. | © Imago
Emotions were running high on Matchday 29 of the 1999/2000 season as Bayern went behind inside 11 minutes and then had Sammy Kuffour sent off after 18 in Freiburg. But the Bavarians battled back and managed to turn things around, with Mehmet Scholl scoring a penalty to make it 2-1 with three minutes to go. However, the game is best remembered for one incident in the closing moments when Oliver Kahn suddenly went to ground at a goal-kick. A Freiburg supporter had thrown a golf ball and struck the Titan on his head. Kahn would go on to finish the game after receiving treatment, but his emotions boiled over after the final whistle. General manager Uli Hoeneß personally helped to calm the keeper down.
10 September 2011: Unstoppable Mario
Mario Gomez took Freiburg apart with a direct hand in five goals in September 2011. | © Getty
Bayern recorded their biggest-ever win over Freiburg on Matchday 5 of the 2011/12 season, with Mario Gomez the star of the show in the 7-0 victory at the Allianz Arena. The striker became the first Bayern player since Giovane Elber in 2002 to score four goals in a Bundesliga game, plus he also set up one of Franck Ribery’s two strikes that afternoon. Substitute Nils Petersen, who could go on to enjoy a long and successful time with Freiburg, came off the bench to wrap things up with his first Bundesliga goal in the 90th minute.
20 May 2017: Legends bow out
There were flowers and admiration for several club legends before facing Freiburg in 2017. | © Imago
The final game of the 2016/17 Bundesliga season marked the end of an era as Philipp Lahm, Tom Starke and Xabi Alonso all brought down the curtain on their impressive careers with one final title. They featured in a 4-1 win over Freiburg at the Allianz Arena, with Arjen Robben and Arturo Vidal putting the champions 2-0 up before Petersen got one back. A late double from Ribery and Joshua Kimmich then rounded things off as the three legends bowed out in style.
14 October 2017: Perfect comeback
Jupp Heynckes saw his team score five times against Freiburg on his return. | © Getty
It turned into the dream comeback for Jupp Heynckes as he kicked off his fourth spell as Bayern boss with a commanding 5-0 win at home to Freiburg. An own goal followed by further strikes from Kingsley Coman, Thiago, Robert Lewandowski and Kimmich did the job at the Allianz Arena as fans and players sensed just what could become of the season.
15 May 2021: Lewandowski matches Müller’s record
Robert Lewandowski dedicated his historic goal against Freiburg to Gerd Müller. | © FC Bayern
With the title already secure ahead of the last away game of the 2020/21 season, Bayern made the trip to Freiburg with a special mission. Lewandowski was on 39 goals for the Bundesliga campaign with two games to go, meaning he was one shy of equalling Gerd Müller’s single-season record from 1971/72. Bayern were then given a penalty in the 26th minute. It was Lewandowski time, as he stepped up and coolly finished before revealing a T-shirt bearing Der Bomber’s face and with the words “4EVER GERD”. The game ended up finishing 2-2, but Lewandowski wasn’t done there as he would go on to net an unprecedented 41st goal of the season in added time against Augsburg on the final day.
1 September 2024: Müller makes history
Thomas Müller was congratulated by his teammates after making his 710th appearance for Bayern. | © FC Bayern
When it comes to legendary moments at Bayern, Thomas Müller is never far away. And he finally took his place in the club’s record books on Matchday 2 of the 2024/25 season at home to Freiburg as he played his 710th competitive game for his boyhood club to overtake Sepp Maier as Bayern’s all-time record appearance maker. He even capped the occasion with a wonderful goal to wrap up the 2-0 win.
The stats and facts ahead of the latest encounter with Freiburg:
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