Freiburg go into the second leg of their UEFA Europa League semi-final with work to do after losing 2-1 to Braga in the first meeting, according to the Bundesliga's official coverage. The defeat, which arrived late in the match, means the German side must score in Portugal if they are to reach a first major European final in the club's history.
The Bundesliga's account frames the tie as far from settled, noting that Schuster's squad retain reasons for confidence despite the setback. A one-goal deficit is recoverable, and Freiburg have demonstrated throughout this campaign that they are capable of results away from the Schwarzwald-Stadion.
For a club of Freiburg's scale, simply reaching the last four of a continental competition represents an achievement that would have seemed remote not long ago. They have long operated as one of the Bundesliga's more resourceful sides — consistent in the top half of the table without the financial weight of the division's dominant clubs — and this run in Europe has extended that reputation considerably.
The tie with Braga sets up what would be a significant occasion for either club. The Portuguese side, competing in the semi-finals themselves, will be aware that a home advantage has not guaranteed progress in European knockouts before. Freiburg, for their part, have the second leg to come and the knowledge that a single goal changes the entire complexion of the fixture.
Whether Schuster's side can produce that result will become clearer when the two clubs meet again. For now, the wire signals make no firm prediction beyond the obvious: Freiburg are behind, and they need to find a way through.