week 4 - match preview

Magath: "We mustn't be fooled by Freiburg's last result"

"We have an awkward task ahead of us", said Felix Magath, looking forward to Saturday's visit of SC Freiburg. "Although they suffered a heavy 5-0 defeat against Leverkusen last week, Freiburg are a very good footballing side."

The Schalke boss feels their league position, Freiburg are bottom of the table, and the thrashing by Leverkusen do not paint a true picture of last season's second division champions. "Freiburg are the strongest of the three promoted sides for me. And if they had scored in the first half against Leverkusen, the game would definitely have ended differently", stressed Magath.

"Robin Dutt is carrying on what his predecessor Volker Finke built up over many years there", he continued. "There's only one difference as far as I can tell. Freiburg look a bit fresher than they have done in the past." Another plus point: "They had a successful season last year and have a settled side."

The task facing the Royal Blues, then, if they wish to keep the points at the VELTINS Arena, is to attack Freiburg from the start. "I won't be underestimating them at all", emphasised Magath. "And I hope my players won't be fooled by Freiburg's last result."