'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Freiburg's home stadium - the Schwarzwald-Stadion - played host today to Borussia Dortmund in a clash that ended with Freiburg unable to break Dortmund's historic hold on them. Earlier this year, Dortmund hammered Freiburg 4-0 at the same stadium, but the hosts have been much stronger this season. However, they played just well enough to share the spoils and take a point as consolation.
It was Dortmund who opened the scoring 20 minutes in with a superb goal by Axel Witsel from Thorgan Hazard's corner. In a most unexpected fashion, the high corner from Hazard found its way to an unmarked Witsel who unleashed a one-time volley to the left side of the post.
Both sides picked up more chances in the first half but nothing happened for either side. The second half, however, brought three goals.
Freiburg equalized with a beautiful goal by Luca Waldschmidt in the 55th minute of the game. The striker capped up a beautiful team effort by making one touch to shift the ball onto his left foot and take a shot with the second touch from outside the box. He powered it past the keeper's fingers and into the right bottom corner of the goal.
Achraf Hakimi put Dortmund back in front with an exciting solo effort in the final third. Picking a pass from Jadon Sancho, he cut in at the byline to swiftly dribble his marker and took a left-footed shot at the goal. A deflection helped the ball right into the net.
An own-goal put Freiburg back into contention at the dying embers of the game. Vincenzo Grifo picked up the ball in the final third after a poor clearance by Manuel Akanji. The subsequent cross hit Akanji's leg and was deflected past the stunned keeper and into the goal.
That rounded up the game as a draw with a point going to both sides. Dortmund will be more embarrassed to have let an own-goal in the 89th minute of the game ruin all their hard work. Freiburg, on the other hand, will feel that a loss was underserved and a salvaged draw is a better reward.
Without further ado, let's take a look at three players who impressed and two who didn't.
#5 Luca Waldschmidt impressed for Freiburg
The 23-year-old German had a good game, and he fully deserved to get his name on the scoresheet.
He won three aerial duels, the joint-most in the Freiburg team and his presence was well-felt by Dortmund's defenders. Waldschmidt took four shots at goal, ironically four times more shots than any other player in his team. He put one on target, and it was a worthy goal.
While he didn't fall back to aid his team in defence, he successfully helped in keeping possession and picking the right passes. He had the second-best pass accuracy in Freiburg's starting lineup, which, for any striker, is saying something.
#4 Lucas Holer did not play well for Freiburg
Holer did not directly help his team in attack, bar two important passes. His passing accuracy was quite horrible - 50% - and he made only 12 passes in the 67 minutes he spent on the pitch.
He did not make up for his lack of attacking quality by defending effectively along with the rest of the team. Making only one interception throughout, he made no tackles or clearances. Frankly, he had a less-than-average game, and the manager was quick to substitute him for Rolland Sallai.
#3 Axel Witsel was impressive for Borussia
While the midfielder took a single shot that resulted in the best goal of the game, much of his efforts for Dortmund came in his work-rate and passing.
With a passing accuracy of 91%, Witsel was an important oil in the Dortmund engine. He also made 118 touches on the ball, the second-highest on the entire field after Achraf Hakimi. However, he did make the most passes on the pitch (108).
He also aided a bit in defence, making one tackle and two interceptions.
#2 Amir Abrashi was poor for Freiburg
The 29-year-old's substitution in the 74th minute was quite necessary, and could perhaps have come earlier.
With only 21 passes throughout his time on the pitch, it was almost like Abrashi did not play in a central midfield position. Without neither a shot on target nor a single key pass, he did nothing to enable his team.
Perhaps slightly notable was his slightly bigger presence in defence. He made two tackles and one interception, as well as causing two fouls.
#1 Achraf Hakimi was the best player on the field
The 20-year-old was all over the pitch today. He actively became the dynamo Dortmund needed to hold possession and build attacks within the final third.
While he took only one shot at goal - which he scored thanks to a crazy deflection - most of his efforts were focused on his team.
He made 132 touches - the most on the pitch - and seriously troubled the Freiburg defence with 5 dribbles. He also had 99 passes, two key passes, and three crosses.
