Freiburg stand as the sole German club remaining in European football this season, reaching the semi-finals of the UEFA Europa League while every other Bundesliga side has been eliminated. The Bundesliga's official channels confirmed the position this week, noting that Bayern Munich's defeat by Paris Saint-Germain — the reigning Champions League holders — brought Germany's involvement in the continent's premier club competition to a close.
It is a striking position for a club of Freiburg's size and resources. Situated in the far south-west of Germany, they have spent much of their history navigating between the Bundesliga and the second division, and their consistent presence in the top flight over recent years has been among the more understated achievements in German football. Reaching the last four of the Europa League represents a significant step beyond that.
Bayern's exit to Paris Saint-Germain is the headline loss for German football on the continental stage. The French champions, who lifted the trophy last season, proved too strong over the course of the tie, ending what had been a campaign with considerable expectation attached to it. No other Bundesliga club progressed deep enough into their respective competitions to soften that blow.
The Conference League and Europa League both began the season with German representation, but the Bundesliga's presence has narrowed round by round until only Freiburg remain. That they have done so in the Europa League, a competition that attracts clubs of considerably greater financial means, adds weight to what their squad and manager have built.
The semi-finals will present the sternest examination yet. Freiburg's opponents are still to be confirmed in this report, but the draw will determine whether a first major European final is a realistic prospect. Whatever follows, the 2025/26 campaign has already taken them further than most predicted when the group stage began.