English
Español
Français
Português
Deutsch
Italiano
NederlandFreiburg take on RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga on Saturday, with the visitors looking to maintain pressure on Bayern Munich at the top of the table.
The home side, meanwhile, can move level on points with sixth-placed Bayer Leverkusen with a victory at the Schwarzwald-Stadion.
Match preview
© Reuters
Indeed, Christian Streich's side are enjoying quite the successful season, with last weekend's 2-1 win at Leverkusen yet more evidence of the danger they pose possession-based sides in transition.
Admittedly, Streich had his goalkeeper Florian Muller to thank dearly for the score remaining level at the half-time interval, with the stopper superbly denying Florian Wirtz, Leon Bailey and Demarai Gray in the early exchanges.
However, as they so often do, Freiburg weathered the storm and produced two quickfire sucker-punches, with Lucas Holer and Ermedin Demirovic both superbly combining for their goals. Bailey finally managed to beat Muller with a fizzing finish, but it proved too little, too late as the visitors held on for a hugely impressive victory.
Streich and his players will certainly have no fears against a Leipzig side who like to control games in a similar manner, but equally they will be under no illusions that it is likely to be a much tougher challenge to gain a positive result on the day.
© Reuters
Indeed, Leipzig's growing resolve under Julian Nagelsmann was brilliantly showcased by the 33-year-old's side overturning a two-goal deficit against Borussia Monchengladbach last weekend.
Dayot Upamecano's clumsy tackle allowed Jonas Hofmann to squeeze the ball past Peter Gulacsi from the penalty spot, before Breel Embolo's wayward header deflected off Marcus Thuram past the Hungarian to compound a nightmare start for the hosts.
However, Leipzig are made of stern stuff these days, with two decisive finishes from Christopher Nkunku and Yussuf Poulsen either side of the hour mark bringing them level. With time running out, Alexander Sorloth broke Gladbach hearts by earning a vital winner with the last kick of the game to keep them within two points of league leaders Bayern by the end of the weekend.
Poulsen was on target once again in midweek, meanwhile, opening the scoring against Wolfsburg in the DFB-Pokal quarter-final before Hwang Hee-chan made sure of the victory late on. Nagelsmann and his players will need to be on guard against a dangerous Freiburg opposition, but with Bayern facing Borussia Dortmund in Der Klassiker later on Saturday, there is every chance they could end the weekend on top of the table should they produce the goods.
Freiburg Bundesliga form: WLWDLW
RB Leipzig Bundesliga form: LWWWWW
RB Leipzig form (all competitions): WWLWWW
Team News
© Reuters
Freiburg will be without Kwon Chang-hoon and Mark Flekken due to injury, but otherwise Streich has a clean bill of health to choose from.
Holer and Demirovic should continue in tandem in attack after their superb combination play at Leverkusen last weekend.
Leipzig, meanwhile, continue their wait to provide Dominik Szoboszlai his debut after joining from Red Bull Salzburg in January, with the winger still out with a groin injury.
Konrad Laimer remains out with a knee injury, while Angelino, Marcel Halstenberg and Willi Orban are minor doubts with knocks.
Marcel Sabitzer is suspended after picking up his fifth caution of the season against Gladbach.
Freiburg possible starting lineup:
Muller; Kubler, Lienhart, Heintz, Gunter; Santamaria, Hofler; Schmid, Grifo; Demirovic, Holer
RB Leipzig possible starting lineup:
Gulacsi; Mukiele, Upamecano, Klostermann; Adams, Haidara, Kampl, Angelino; Nkunku, Olmo; Poulsen
We say: Freiburg 1-2 RB Leipzig
We can envisage Freiburg making life difficult for Leipzig on Saturday, but Nagelsmann's side seem to have a knack of getting over the line at present.
The Bundesliga's second meanest defence is unlikely to offer as many opportunities to Streich's side as Leverkusen did last weekend.
