Frankfurt's David Abraham Sent Off for Barging Freiburg Boss Christian Streich
Nov 10, 2019
LIEGE, BELGIUM - NOVEMBER 07: David Abraham of Eintracht Frankfurt looks dejected during the UEFA Europa League group F match between Standard Liege and Eintracht Frankfurt at Stade Maurice Dufrasne on November 7, 2019 in Liege, Belgium. (Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images)
Eintracht Frankfurt captain David Abraham was sent off in their 1-0 defeat to Freiburg on Sunday after he deliberately barged over manager Christian Streich.
The central defender went to retrieve the ball for a throw-in deep into added time, but he sent 54-year-old Streich to the floor when he crashed into him on the way:
*Record scratch*
*Freeze frame*
Yup, that's me. You're probably wondering how I ended up in this situation... pic.twitter.com/khOXRekarG
Frankfurt, who had been reduced to 10 men at the end of the first half when Gelson Fernandes was sent off, were chasing the game after Nils Petersen broke the deadlock for the hosts in the 77th minute at the Schwarzwald-Stadion.
Bundesliga commentator James Thorogood condemned Abraham's actions:
The 33-year-old was duly sent off after the resulting melee was brought to a halt.
Freiburg's Vincenzo Grifo, who was on the bench when the incident occurred having been substituted in the 57th minute, was also shown a red card for his part in the aftermath.
Bayer Leverkusen's social media manager, Kara Head, had sympathy for Grifo:
The win sent Freiburg fourth in the Bundesliga, four points behind leaders Borussia Monchengladbach and level with RB Leipzig and Bayern Munich, who occupy second and third, respectively.
Frankfurt are ninth, a further four points back.
Is Freiburg Goalkeeper Roman Burki Bound for Greatness?
Sep 9, 2014
ST GALLEN, SWITZERLAND - MAY 29: Roman Burki of Grasshopper Club in action during the Swiss Super League match between FC St Gallen and Grasshopper Club held on May 29, 2013 at the AFG Arena in St Gallen, Switzerland. (Photo by Sebastien Bozon/EuroFootball/Getty Images)
The spotlight was on goalkeeper Yann Sommer when Switzerland were beaten 2-0 by England, but could one of his understudies, Roman Burki, end up being the better goalkeeper?
Sommer and Burki arrived in the Bundesliga this season, though under vastly different circumstances.
Named the successor to Marc-Andre ter Stegen, a once-in-a-generation goalkeeper who departed for Barcelona, Sommer is in a poisoned chalice situation at Borussia Monchengladbach.
BARCELONA, SPAIN - MAY 22: Marc-Andre Ter Stegen poses for the media during his presentation as new goalkeeper of FC Barcelona at Camp Nou on May 22, 2014 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
Valued at €6/£4.8 million, Sommer is under pressure to perform at a world-class level.
Whereas Burki is replacing Oliver Baumann, a hit-and-miss goalkeeper, who signed for Hoffenheim.
143 - Oliver Baumann of @sc_freiburg was the keeper with the most saves in 2013 in the Bundesliga (143). Gloves.
Having a father who played professionally has given Burki a platform to develop into a top-flight goalkeeper.
Burki is in a more salubrious situation than Sommer.
"Freiburg has a very good name in Switzerland due to Gelson Fernandes and Admir Mehmedi," Burki said, per the Bundesliga's official website. "It is another important step in my career and I am really looking forward to my time in Freiburg."
Another positive aspect for Burki is having a vote of confidence from Freiburg.
"He [Burki] fits our requirements and has gained experience in both the Super League and in Europe for Grasshoppers and with the Swiss Under-21s," Freiburg sporting director Jochen Saier said, per Sky Sports.
"We have observed Roman Burki for a long time and are very pleased that the deal has come about."
It was not empty talk from Saier because Freiburg manager Christian Streich has settled on Burki over Sebastian Mielitz, who was a regular starter for Werder Bremen during the 2012-13 Bundesliga season.
Burki is a vital component to a young defence marshalled by veteran Pavel Krmas, who has played for Freiburg since 2007.
Player
Position
Age
Height
Weight
Pavel Krmas
CB
34
6'4"
190 lbs
Oliver Sorg
RB
24
5'9"
165 lbs
Roman Burki
GK
23
6'2"
183 lbs
Christian Gunter
LB
21
6'1"
176 lbs
Marc-Oliver Kempf
CB
19
6'1"
181 lbs
In Burki's Bundesliga debut, a 1-0 defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt, he made two saves and commanded his box.
Reading the play perfectly, he beat Frankfurt centre-forward Haris Seferovic to the ball, who had gotten in behind Freiburg centre-back Marc-Oliver Kempf.
Moving laterally to be in the ideal position, Burki dealt with Frankfurt right attacking midfielder Nelson Valdez's uncontested header.
Burki was unflustered when Freiburg drew 0-0 against a 'Gladbach team missing the influence of Max Kruse.
'Gladbach's strike force of Branimir Hrgota-Raffael was spasmodic.
Hrgota was replaced by Chelsea loanee Thorgan Hazard who ran around aimlessly.
Too many pot-shots from Gladbach, as encapsulated by right winger Ibrahima Traore.
When Granit Xhaka raced into an advantageous situation, a one-on-one against Burki with time to set and shoot, the 'Gladbach central midfielder opted for power.
His forcefully driven swerving left-footed shot was tipped over the crossbar by Burki, whose positioning was flawless.
The only time Burki was seriously troubled was 'Gladbach centre-back Tony Jantschke heading the ball home from a corner, though it was disallowed as he had elbowed Freiburg left-winger Felix Klaus.
Anything Yann Sommer can do, so can Roman Bürki
So far both goals are safe as, well, safes #SCFBMG
Sommer made one more save than Burki, but the Freiburg goalkeeper was a more accurate passer short and long.
GK
Bild
Kicker
Roman Burki
3/6
2/6
Yann Sommer
3/6
2.5/6
German publications Bild and Kicker grade footballers on a scale of 1-6 (one being Franz Beckenbauer great and six being you are not Bundesliga-standard).
While tied for the same Bild rating, Burki had a 0.5 advantage on Sommer per Kicker.
Burki outperformed Sommer in their first head-to-head encounter in the Bundesliga.
Bottom Line
After two Bundesliga games, do you know who Kicker's highest-rated goalkeeper is?
Bayern Munich's FIFA World Cup-winning Manuel Neuer?
Scouting Report: Is Admir Mehmedi the Next Bundesliga Top Scorer?
Jun 21, 2014
SALVADOR, BRAZIL - JUNE 20: Admir Mehmedi of Switzerland dribbles pas Mathieu Debuchy of France during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group E match between Switzerland and France at Arena Fonte Nova on June 20, 2014 in Salvador, Brazil. (Photo by Christopher Lee/Getty Images)
Can Freiburg's Swiss international Admir Mehmedi—a 23-year-old, 6'0", 168-pound centre-forward—transition into one of the Bundesliga's top scorers?
To address that question, this article grades Mehmedi's game against France at the 2014 FIFA World Cup and provides a scouting report of his season for Freiburg.
Mehmedi vs. France Grade: C+
In two minutes, Mehmedi poached a goal against Ecuador.
However, it was not the same story against France.
After 90 minutes plus five minutes of stoppage time, Mehmedi was goalless in Switzerland's 5-2 defeat.
Starting on the left wing, Mehmedi ran aimlessly and was dispossessed three times.
Mehmedi failed to provide adequate support to Swiss centre-forward Haris Seferovic and his replacement Josip Drmic.
The reason why Mehmedi did not receive a worse grade was that he made an effort to be involved in the build-up play.
Mehmedi Freiburg Positives
Mehmedi can lead the line as a centre-forward or play behind a No. 9 as a No. 10.
Mehmedi has a sneaky first step, is self-assured at taking on players and is assertive inside the penalty box.
League Only
Goals
Shots Per Goal
Dribbles Per Game
Admir Mehmedi
12
6.6
3.5
Adrian Ramos
16
5.8
2.6
Josip Drmic
17
3.9
2.2
Mario Mandzukic
18
4.2
0.7
Robert Lewandowski
20
5.9
3.2
Hertha Berlin goalkeeper Thomas Kraft is caught off-guard by Mehmedi's acceleration.
Latching on to the ball, Mehmedi glides past Augsburg centre-back Jan-Ingwer Callsen-Bracker, evades the tackle of Augsburg centre-back Ragnar Klavan and strikes the ball past Augsburg goalkeeper Alex Manninger.
Mehmedi side-steps Hannover 96 centre-back Andre Hoffmann and slots the ball past Hannover goalkeeper Ron-Robert Zieler.
From outside the box, Mehmedi curls a ball past Hoffenheim goalkeeper Koen Casteels, only to be denied by the post.
Mehmedi Freiburg Negatives
Mehmedi contests many headers but needs to improve his proficiency.
His headers won percentage (25), per Squawka.com, is below average and not top-flight standard for a centre-forward.
Mehmedi is passionate but has snapped under the pressure like cussing out referee Tobias Stieler and getting sent off.
Bottom Line
In the past, unheralded footballers such as Papiss Cisse, Theofanis Gekas and Thomas Christiansen have scaled the heights of the Bundesliga scoring charts.
Like Cisse, Mehmedi creates his own shot and can work with less.
"I'm very happy that I can carry on playing for Freiburg," Mehmedi said, per Bundesliga.com. "It will be good for both of us that we can continue working together."
Watch out for Mehmedi as he is primed for a top season with Freiburg.
