Japanese international Yuito Suzuki announced his arrival in the new Bundesliga season with a hat-trick for SC Freiburg. The 29-year-old attacker was the decisive figure in a 4-1 home victory over Werder Bremen on the opening matchday, as reported by the official Bundesliga website.
Suzuki found the net in the 29th, 45th, and 55th minutes, converting assists from Niklas Beste, Igor Matanović, and Derry Scherhant. "I just tapped in all three goals." the forward said post-match. This performance propelled Freiburg to 2nd place in the Bundesliga standings with three points and a +3 goal difference.
How did Suzuki's hat-trick unfold?
The Japanese striker needed no time to settle. He opened the scoring in the 29th minute from a Niklas Beste cross. He doubled the lead just before halftime following a pass from new signing Igor Matanović. His third goal came ten minutes after the break, set up by Derry Scherhant. Suzuki is now just one goal shy of his total tally from the entire previous season (four goals). 80 percent of users on the Bundesliga app voted him Man of the Match.
What is Suzuki's role in the current squad?
Suzuki, who joined Freiburg from Danish club Brøndby IF in summer 2025, appears to be carrying his form from a successful previous campaign. Last season, SC Freiburg won the DFB Cup and reached the UEFA Europa League final. The team has also shown strength this term, having progressed through the UEFA Conference League play-offs against Motherwell. Suzuki stressed a grounded approach, however: "It's still the beginning of the season."
The team must continue its success without several key injured players. According to the current injuries list, Florent Muslija, Patrick Osterhage, and Rihito Yamamoto are currently sidelined. This highlights the importance of performers like Suzuki.
Where does SC Freiburg stand after Matchday 1?
The clear win against Bremen is a strong early statement. Alongside Suzuki, Igor Matanović also shone, scoring his fourth goal of the season in all competitions with a 25-yard drive. The team has scored four and conceded only one, showing a solid defensive foundation. All current team statistics can be viewed on our stats page.
The next test comes this weekend with an away match at newly promoted SC Paderborn. A look at the fixtures list reveals a major challenge already on November 28th, however, when Freiburg hosts current third-placed side RB Leipzig at the Europa-Park Stadion.
What are the next steps for the Breisgau club?
Consistency over the entire season is the stated goal, as Suzuki indicated. The successful European experiences of recent years and the cup triumph give the squad the necessary confidence. The threat in front of goal from various positions, demonstrated against Bremen, is a good sign. The immediate task is preparing for the trip to Paderborn on Saturday with a 3:30pm CEST kick-off.
