Freiburg's Europa League journey hit a bump in the road, but head coach Julian Schuster isn't hitting the panic button just yet. After a tense 2-1 loss to Braga in Thursday's first leg, Schuster remains confident his squad can turn things around on home soil next week.

The match in Portugal was a rollercoaster from the start. Braga struck first through Demor Ege Tiknaz, but Freiburg's Vincenzo Grifo quickly leveled the score, giving the German side a foothold in the contest. Goalkeeper Noah Atubolu even stepped up with a crucial penalty save to keep his team in it. However, a stoppage-time sucker punch—a rebound goal from Mario Dorgeles after Atubolu couldn't hold the initial shot—left Freiburg heading back to Germany with a sour taste.

"A 1-1 draw would have been fair," Schuster admitted to reporters after the match. "But even so, everything is still to play for. Only one half has been played, and with our fans behind us, anything is still possible."

The late concession was especially frustrating for Schuster, who called it "very, very annoying." But the coach's message is clear: this squad has the resilience to bounce back. "The team has the quality to come back," he emphasized. "We have the confidence to deliver a better performance and win the second match."

For Freiburg fans, the script is far from written. The second leg in Germany offers a chance to rewrite the narrative, with the home crowd ready to roar their team to a comeback. Whether it's the grit of Atubolu between the posts or the creativity of Grifo in attack, Schuster believes his side has the tools to advance. Now, it's all about execution when it matters most.