In this part of the world, on the southern edge of Germany’s Black Forest, Freiburg are known as the Breisgau Brazilians. And so, given this was a contest played in front an entirely home crowd, it seemed fitting that even the opposition’s best player on the night could be considered, in some small way, one of their own.
As West Ham extended their unbeaten run in Europe to 17 matches, a new record for an English club, they had their samba star Lucas Paqueta to hail, the midfielder opening the scoring with a towering header in a peerless display, before Nayef Aguerd’s goal, powered in in similar fashion, secured all three points after Roland Sallai had levelled.
