![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/RS508649.jpg\"\/)
<\/p>\nDerby County\u2019s Austria trip concluded with a 3-1 defeat to SC Freiburg at Velly Arena on Friday afternoon.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Carlton Morris had levelled for the Rams to cancel out Cyriaque Iri\u00e9\u2019s opener, before late goals from Vincenzo Grifo and Leon Catak gave the Bundesliga side the win. \n<\/p>\n
The scoreline perhaps didn\u2019t reflect the flow of the contest, a bout which was largely equal across its 120 minutes, with Derby enjoying the better opportunities in the first hour. \n<\/p>\n
John Eustace named an unchanged XI from the team that started last week\u2019s 2-0 victory at Alfreton Town, again giving an opportunity to trialist Ryan Hedges, who had continued to train with the group out in Austria. \n<\/p>\n
Key Moments<\/p>\n
Derby had the first chance of note, created on the counter. Bobby Clark drove on the breakaway to the edge of the Freiburg box, subsequently finds Oscar Fraulo, but the Dane\u2019s strike was straight at Mio Backhaus. \n<\/p>\n
Last season\u2019s UEFA Europa League finalists found the net from their first attack. Individual brilliance from Iri\u00e9 saw him weave between two Derby defenders to curl into the far corner of Josh Vickers\u2019 goal. \n<\/p>\n
But the Rams restored parity within four minutes. Fraulo\u2019s relentless pressing \u2013 a theme of Derby\u2019s play throughout \u2013 saw him pinch the ball back from Yannik Engelhardt, in tandem with Morris, before the ball broke for the latter to finish clinically into the roof of the net from 12 yards. \n<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/RS508814.jpg\"\/)
<\/p>\n
Captain Lewis Travis prevented the German side from re-taking the lead, sliding in on the goal line to avert Mateo Zelic\u2019s goal-bound effort. \n<\/p>\n
Fresh from the first hydration break on the half-hour mark, Derby grew stronger. Again, the tenacious Fraulo was present to intercept the ball in midfield, playing into Morris, who found Joe Ward, with the winger\u2019s first-time pull back placed inches wide of the far post by Hedges. \n<\/p>\n
A minute later, the high press almost reaped rewards again. This time it was Hedges who stole possession back, with the loose ball landing at Fraulo\u2019s feet. \n<\/p>\n
He slid the ball into Hedges\u2019 path, who in turn threaded Ward in again – the pull-back met Clark\u2019s run before the chance was cleared off the line in the nick of time by Max Rosenfelder. \n<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/RS508758.jpg\"\/)
<\/p>\n
With just over ten minutes to play, Rio Canoville brought down Maximillian Eggestein on the edge of the area. The referee pointed to the spot, giving Grifo the chance to put Freiburg ahead from 12 yards. \n<\/p>\n
The Italian stepped up from a short run-up to send Sam Kane \u2013 who had been replaced by Richard O\u2019Donnell five minutes earlier – the wrong way and make it 2-1. \n<\/p>\n
Canoville almost atoned instantly, but his header from a Cruz Allen corner was well saved at the far post by Jannik Huth \u2013 Freiburg\u2019s third goalkeeper of the afternoon. Adisa Osayande headed over from the resulting corner as Derby threatened a second leveller. \n<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/RS509328.jpg\"\/)
<\/p>\n
The German side added a third in the dying embers. Kane rushed off his line and swept up the danger well, but when Liam Thompson was subsequently caught in possession, Catak managed to loft the ball over the 20-year-old as he retreated to his goal. \n<\/p>\n
Still, the Rams can take heart from their endeavours as they sign off from a successful week\u2019s work in Austria. \n<\/p>\n
Teams<\/p>\n
Derby County first half XI: Vickers (GK), Forsyth, Clarke, Clark, Morris, Johnston, Ward, Travis (C), Sanderson, Fraulo, Hedges (Harvey, 62\u2019). \n<\/p>\n
Derby County second half XI: O\u2019Donnell (GK) (Kane, 110), Thompson (C), Taylor (T Gill, 90\u2019), Nyambe, Eames, Brown, Allen, Smith, Canoville, Osayande, Harvey (Lukic, 100\u2019). \n<\/p>\n
Next Fixture<\/p>\n
John Eustace\u2019s side are back in action on Tuesday in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Valencia, before meeting Mansfield Town (Friday 31st July) and Burton Albion (Saturday 1st August) next weekend. \n<\/p>\n