European-chasers Borussia Dortmund and Freiburg get the Bundesliga weekend underway when they meet at Signal Iduna Park on Friday night.
The hosts had their 100% start to 2024 ended in last weekend's Friday fixture, so will look to put things right on home soil to maintain a place in the top four.
Match preview
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Dortmund's trip to newly-promoted Heidenheim did not go as planned last Friday, as Edin Terzic's side were held to a 0-0 draw at the Voith Arena.
Despite dropping points and RB Leipzig claiming their first win of the year, Dortmund do remain fourth heading into the weekend, but they have lost ground on Stuttgart in third.
Given Eintracht Frankfurt's loss last weekend though, it is appearing as though it will be a three-horse race for the final two Champions League spots in the Bundesliga among the sides currently in third, fourth and fifth.
Terzic was not helped by an eye-watering injury list last week, but being in the Friday slot again, the manager will hope they can take the ascendancy and put the pressure on Stuttgart and Leipzig early.
Freiburg are a side they have enjoyed playing lately, as they have the opportunity to do back-to-back doubles over their upcoming opponents here.
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Nicolas Hofler's late red card proved pivotal in the reverse fixture, as Dortmund went on to score two late goals in order to win 4-2 at Europa-Park in September.
Goals have been commonplace, as BVB won the two meetings last season by an aggregate score of 8-2, so with the fixture averaging over five goals per game in the last two seasons, another thriller could be in store.
Freiburg will hope it goes in their favour as they are in desperate need of a win following an underwhelming start to 2024.
A draw with strugglers Union Berlin on their return to action was followed up with a dramatic 3-2 win at home to Hoffenheim, but they have since lost consecutive matches to Werder Bremen and Stuttgart to fall off the pace for the European places.
Frankfurt's struggles have kept them in the hunt for top six as they are just three points back, but they have slipped nine points behind Dortmund, so they realistically need to win in order to keep their hopes of top four alive.
It would be the perfect time to return to form not only to boost their Champions League challenge, but also because they are back in Europa League action next midweek, when they face Lens in the knockout preliminary round.
Team News
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Dortmund will hope they can welcome Marco Reus, Julian Brandt and Gregor Kobel back to the side imminently, as illness has debilitated the trio over the past few weeks.
Jadon Sancho was also an absentee from the side that drew with Heidenheim, as he was ruled out shortly before the encounter with a groin injury.
The Manchester United loanee joins fellow attackers Karim Adeyemi and Felix Nmecha on the sidelines, while Sebastian Haller remains away on Ivory Coast duty at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Thomas Meunier and Giovanni Reyna both completed late moves away from the club on loan in the past week, so Marius Wolf is likely to come in to replace the former, who started at Heidenheim.
Freiburg will be able to welcome back an important attacker from international duty, as Ritsu Doan has returned from the Asian Cup after Japan's elimination.
The visitors have plenty of absentees of their own though, including Merlin Rohl, who is suspended after being sent off inside 20 minutes against Stuttgart last weekend.
Matthias Ginter is also a big miss for Freiburg, while Philipp Lienhart and Daniel-Kofi Kyereh are among a growing list of injuries at the club.
Borussia Dortmund possible starting lineup:
Meyer; Wolf, Sule, Schlotterbeck, Maatsen; Sabitzer, Ozcan, Can; Malen, Fullkrug, Bynoe-Gittens
Freiburg possible starting lineup:
Atubolu; Kubler, Szalai, Gulde, Makengo; Eggestein, Hofler; Doan, Sallai, Grifo; Holer
We say: Borussia Dortmund 3-1 Freiburg
In what should be a competitive encounter, Dortmund may be made to work for their three points on home soil, especially in the midst of an injury and illness crisis.
Freiburg have not yet reached the levels they had shown in 2023 though, and are currently stuck in a poor run of form which is likely to continue here.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Andrew Delaney
