No win for Rose: RB Leipzig goalless in Freiburg

No victory for Marco Rose, who has come under heavy criticism: accompanied by the debates surrounding his impending departure, the coach had to settle for a 0-0 (0-0) draw with RB Leipzig at SC Freiburg. In the explosive top match of the Bundesliga, the performance of the visitors from Saxony was not enough for the desired second victory in the second half of the season.

The duel had been seen as a possible endgame for Rose. "If the topic of Marco Rose has been raised for months, then it can only be influenced by results. I know that too," the 48-year-old had previously said. "The best answer would be a win in Freiburg, then we'd have a few days' peace and quiet."

Short training camp does not bring the hoped-for winning effect

Leipzig remain in sixth place in the table, two points behind the Breisgauers (5th), and once again failed to make up points in the battle for the Champions League places with a win. Rose's team's disappointing lack of spirit in attack did not speak in favor of qualifying for the top flight again.

Colleague coach Julian Schuster's Freiburg are unbeaten in six games and can increasingly dream of the European Cup. They kept a clean sheet for the sixth time - and set two club records: for the team and for goalkeeper Noah Atubolu personally.

Rose had opted for an unusual preparation measure in the tense situation with a short training camp in Salzburg. "It was important to me that we get away from the (training ground) Cottaweg, that we don't start every morning in the same rut, sipping our coffee there and maybe feeling sorry for ourselves," he argued on Sky.

For his professionals Lukas Klostermann and Christoph Baumgartner, however, the trip did not end well. With gastrointestinal problems, the duo were not available to Rose at short notice.

In the Europapark Stadium, the coach watched from the sidelines in front of 32,900 spectators as his team got off the mark. El-Chadaille Bitshiabu headed over from a corner, followed shortly afterwards by Benjamin Sesko. But the attacking efforts remained too harmless. Or a Freiburg defender blocked just in time.

Atubolu barely challenged for SC's best goal

Rose tried to shout his team forward. But even top attackers Sesko and Loïs Openda did not prevent Freiburg goalkeeper Noah Atubolu from breaking the club record. Midway through the first half, the 22-year-old surpassed the 509 minutes that ex-professional Richard Golz had once gone without conceding a goal.

For weeks, the SC defense and Atubolu have been in top form. However, the keeper was not seriously challenged by the visitors for a long time. Penalty-area scenes with scoring chances were a rarity and there was little flow to the game. At the other end, Lucas Höler had the only chance worth mentioning in the opening quarter of an hour to put the hosts ahead.

After the break, the two goalkeepers Atubolu and Peter Gulacsi had already had more strenuous evenings. After around an hour, Gulacsi had to stretch himself to prevent Höler's header from going behind. A long-range shot from RB defender Lutsharel Geertruida went just wide.