In a crucial Bundesliga clash that could significantly impact the race for European football, Freiburg will welcome Borussia Dortmund on Saturday to Europa-Park Stadion.
Freiburg suffered a damaging 2-1 defeat against Union Berlin on March 30 and are in seventh place with 42 points, while BVB managed to triumph 3-1 against Mainz 05 last Sunday and are four points behind the home side in 10th place.
Match preview
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The hosts took the lead against Union in the 29th minute but conceded the equaliser just a minute later, and it will be concerning to boss Julian Schuster that his side registered just one shot on target following their goal.
Freiburg's defeat left them in seventh place, and the loss allowed Borussia Monchengladbach to leapfrog them into fifth, pushing the hosts into seventh spot and outside of the European qualification berths.
While just three points separate them from Mainz, who occupy the final Champions League qualification spot, only goal difference is keeping them below sixth-placed RB Leipzig and the Conference League qualification spot.
Breisgau-Brasilianer's form has been subpar, with the club failing to win any of their past four matches – drawing three times – while failing to score in two of those fixtures, though they did win their prior four.
Freiburg are also winless in two home games, but they triumphed in seven of their previous nine at Europa-Park Stadion.
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Meanwhile, Dortmund took a three-goal lead against Mainz, creating four big chances while restricting their opponents to none.
Manager Niko Kovac's side had not scored in their previous two Bundesliga outings, and it should be noted that they are on track to net just 60 times in the top flight, eight fewer than they totalled in 2023-24.
BVB will hope for a repeat of their clash against Freiburg in late November when they emerged as 4-0 victors, a match that extended their winning streak against their hosts to six games.
Kovac's team have been inconsistent for some time given they have lost seven, been held to a stalemate in one and won four of their last 12 in the league.
Dortmund's away record has improved in the past weeks considering they have achieved victory in four of their six most recent games on the road, though they did lose twice in that period.
Team News
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Freiburg come into the clash with midfielder Daniel-Kofi Kyereh out until late April, but boss Schuster will be grateful to still have Maximilian Eggestein and Patrick Osterhage available.
Attacker Merlin Rohl's heel injury could keep him absent until the middle of the month, so perhaps Ritsu Doan, Eren Dinkci, Vincenzo Grifo and Lucas Holer will be stationed in the forward line.
First-choice goalkeeper Noah Atubolu will likely be replaced by Florian Muller considering the latter was substituted on for the former last time out.
Opponents Dortmund face the prospect of fielding a considerably weakened backline given defenders Emre Can and Niklas Sule are injured, while Yan Couto and Nico Schlotterbeck are suspended.
Expect Julian Ryerson, Waldemar Anton, Ramy Bensebaini and Daniel Svensson to appear in a back four ahead of goalkeeper Gregor Kobel.
Pascal Gross and Salih Ozcan may be chosen to appear in a double pivot considering Marcel Sabitzer is injured.
Given striker Serhou Guirassy set to miss out, Karim Adeyemi could be tasked with leading his side's attack, supported by Jamie-Bynoe Gittens, Julian Brandt and Maximilian Beier.
Freiburg possible starting lineup:
Muller; Sildillia, Ginter, Lienhart, Gunter; Eggestein, Osterhage; Doan, Dinkci, Grifo; Holer
Borussia Dortmund possible starting lineup:
Kobel; Ryerson, Anton, Bensebaini, Svensson; Ozcan, Gross; Beier, Brandt, Bynoe-Gittens; Adeyemi
We say: Freiburg 2-1 Borussia Dortmund
Freiburg are unlikely to prevent Dortmund from scoring given their poor form of late, but the visitors' record on the road is also concerning.
BVB may struggle at the back with so many defenders ruled out, while the absence of a traditional striker up front could prove costly in the final third.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Lewis Nolan
