Europe-chasing Freiburg are seven places above struggling Heidenheim in the Bundesliga table heading into Saturday's gameweek 21 clash at the Europa-Park Stadion.
The Breisgau Brazilians ended a three-match losing run to defeat bottom side VfL Bochum in round 20 and seek consecutive top-flight successes for the first time since October against an opponent on a three-match losing sequence.
Match preview
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Although Freiburg could return to European competition next season after missing out this term, the ninth-placed side in the German top division must find some consistency after recent wobbles.
Having suffered a 5-1 hammering to close out 2024, the Breisgau Brazilians edged a five-goal thriller against relegation-threatened Holstein Kiel 3-2 - despite leading 3-0 - to begin 2025.
However, that joy was short-lived as Julian Schuster's men slipped to three straight losses to Eintracht Frankfurt (4-1), Stuttgart (4-0) and Bayern Munich (2-1) before returning to winning ways with last Saturday's 1-0 success at relegation-threatened Bochum.
After defeating the bottom two clubs either side of their three-match losing run, Freiburg, a point shy of sixth-placed Mainz, two behind fifth-placed Stuttgart and three adrift of RB Leipzig in fourth, aim to record success over the third-bottom Heidenheim to continue their commendable results in front of their supporters, with 19 points accrued from nine fixtures — averaging 2.1 points per home game, only outdone by Bayern (2.8) and Bayer Leverkusen (2.4).
While Schuster's team were beaten by Vincent Kompany's side in their most recent fixture at the Europa-Park Stadion, ending a three-match streak of victories and five-game undefeated run on home soil, fans will anticipate maximum points against an opponent in miserable form.
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Heidenheim's seven points on the road from a possible 30 are superior to just three clubs — Union Berlin (five), Kiel (three) and Bochum (three), highlighting the visiting club's awful form away from Voith-Arena.
Frank Schmidt's men are winless in seven contests on rival turf, falling to six defeats during that run since a 2-0 success over Mainz in late September.
While that September success was the club's second away win in their opening three matches on their travels, FCH have endured a downturn in performances and results, with their seven road losses outdoing all but Bochum (nine).
Entering gameweek 21 on a three-game losing run, following a 2-0 defeat against St Pauli and consecutive 2-1 losses to Augsburg and Borussia Dortmund, Schmidt's underdogs face an uphill battle to avoid a fourth straight disappointment.
Although Kiel and Bochum are two points shy of the third-bottom side, Heidenheim cannot end round 21 rock-bottom even if they fall to a 15th Bundesliga defeat as the clubs trailing them tussle in Kiel this weekend.
Team News
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Of the players currently in the Bundesliga, only Bayern's Harry Kane (six) and Mainz's Jonathan Burkardt (five) have netted more match-winning goals than Freiburg's Ritsu Doan, and the winger aims to add to his four game-clinching strikes this weekend.
With Omar Marmoush no longer in the division after moving to Manchester City, only Leverkusen's Florian Wirtz (eight) has assisted more league goals than Vincenzo Grifo (seven) heading into round 21's fixtures.
Schuster is expected to be without Daniel-Kofi Kyereh (knee), Florent Muslija (ankle), Manuel Gulde (back) and Bruno Ogbus (Achilles) due to injury, while Max Rosenfelder (thigh) will be assessed before Saturday.
Heidenheim do not have as many injury worries as Saturday's hosts, with Niklas Dorsch (knee) and Julian Niehues (knee) the away side's only expected absentees.
Marvin Pieringer and Jan Schoppner are FCH's leading scorers this campaign, finding the net four and three times, respectively, and the onus will be on the pair at ninth-placed Freiburg.
Freiburg possible starting lineup:
Atubolu; Kubler, Ginter, Lienhart, Gunter; Eggestein, Hofler; Doan, Rohl, Grifo; Holer
Heidenheim possible starting lineup:
Muller; Traore, Mainka, Gimber, Fohrenbach; Kerber, Schoppner; Wanner, Pieringer, Kratzig; Zivzivadze
We say: Freiburg 3-2 Heidenheim
While Freiburg have had a commendable sequence of results on home soil, the Breisgau Brazilians have let in at least two goals in each of the previous three Bundesliga contests in front of their supporters.
With Heidenheim scoring two or more in three of their past five away matches, another goal-fest could ensue on Saturday, even if the hosts are backed to record a marginal triumph.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
