Borussia Dortmund will have everything to fight for in the context of a top-four place when they face SC Freiburg to resume their Bundesliga campaign.
Edin Terzic was left perplexed by his side’s inability to make the best out of last weekend’s game against newly-promoted Heidenheim. While the game ended in a goalless draw, there were instances the home side could have nicked three points right at the death. Borussia Dortmund next face SC Freiburg on Friday.
Borussia Dortmund also had their share of chances to exploit Heidenheim but failed to take them throughout the contest. Now, Terzic will want complete focus from his players ahead of a crucial few weeks to come, as Dortmund have everything to fight for in the context of keeping hold of a top-four place.
They are currently fourth on the table as things stand, but RB Leipzig are lurking close and are only a point away in fifth. Looking at the table, there could be a three-horse race for the final two Champions League places, including third-placed VfB Stuttgart.
On the other hand, Freiburg is not yet out of the running for a top-four place despite languishing in around seventh in the table. While a look at the standings will tell a story that the Champions League contention will be contested between Borussia Dortmund, Leipzig and Stuttgart for two places, the likes of Freiburg and Eintracht Frankfurt cannot be ruled out just yet.
While there is a considerable gap between Freiburg and fourth-place Dortmund, Nicolas Hofler’s side has a major chance to reduce that gap over the weekend. The manager would undoubtedly target a win over the injury-ravaged Dortmund, and should he achieve that goal, it would open up the race for the top four.
However, their recent results, which included back-to-back losses to Werder Bremen and Stuttgart, tell a different story about Freiburg. Should they suffer a third consecutive defeat, they can bid goodbye to their slim hope of top-four finish and even jeopardise their objective of seeking European football.
Team News & Tactics
Borussia Dortmund
Despite battling a lengthy injury list, Edin Terzic could receive some respite from it and welcome the likes of Marco Reus, Julian Brandt and Gregor Kobel back into his starting lineup. Meanwhile, there are doubts over Jadon Sancho’s fitness after he was ruled out with a groin problem just before the Heidenheim game.
Should he remain absent for this game, the Manchester United loanee will join fellow attackers Karim Adeyemi and Felix Nmecha on the sidelines. Sebastien Haller also remains away with Ivory Coast, meaning Terzic will continue to miss some of his key attackers.
Meanwhile, Thomas Meunier and Giovanni Reyna completed their moves away from the club late in the transfer window. Youssoufa Moukoko and Niclas Fullkrug should keep their places up front, as Terzic would again prefer a two-prone attacking set-up in the last line of the attack.
Emre Can should sit at the base of midfield, while Donyell Malen and Jamie Bynoe-Gittens should provide the attacking impetus to the front two alongside Marcel Sabitzer.
Probable Lineup (4-1-3-2): Kobel; Wolf, Hummels, Schlotterbeck, Maatsen; Can; Malen, Sabitzer, Bynoe-Gittens; Fullkrug, Moukoko
SC Freiburg
SC Freiburg will have a key player returning to action in the form of attacker Ritsu Doan. The Japanese international has returned to the club following Japan’s elimination from the AFC Asian Cup at the hands of Iran.
Kenneth Schmidt, Philipp Lienhart and Merlin Rohl. There are others who are doubtful about this one, including Matthias Ginter, Max Rosenfelder and Daniel-Kofi Kyereh. Rohl remains suspended and is not an injury-enforced absentee after being sent off against Stuttgart in the first 20 minutes last weekend.
Kilian Sildillia and Manuel Gulde are the preferred options at centre-back, especially with Ginter absent. Maximilian Eggestein and Nicolas Hofler feature in central midfield.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Atubolu; Kubler, Sildillia, Gulde, Makengo; Eggestein, Hofler; Doan, Grifo, Sallai; Gregoritsch
Key Stats
- Borussia Dortmund have scored at least four goals in their last three home matches against Freiburg in all competitions.
- Borussia Dortmund have won 12 of their last 13 home matches against Freiburg in all competitions.
- Borussia Dortmund have seen over 2.5 goals in their last seven matches against Freiburg in all competitions.
- Freiburg have lost their last two games in the Bundesliga,
- Freiburg are nine points behind next opponents and fourth-placed Borussia Dortmund,
Player to Watch
Yousouffa Moukoko
After his recent struggles for relevance, the young striker has a big point to prove this season. The forward was the subject of a significant transfer away and a contract standoff not long ago, but now he has a different objective.
Edin Terzic might continue to afford to give Moukoko more chances in the current climate due to key attacking absences. But having failed to take his chance in the last game, he has another opportunity to make his mark.
Prediction
Borussia Dortmund 2-1 SC Freiburg
The visitors are in a terrible run of form, having lost the last two in the Bundesliga, and now they face a tricky challenge in the context of their campaign. Borussia Dortmund will come into this clash knowing their need to keep winning and hold that fourth place.
However, SC Freiburg are not about to be quickly sidelined and will provide a stern test for Terzic’s men. Despite their long list of injured stars, Dortmund still have the quality to get the best of Freiburg and take the three points, something they might do, albeit in a slender manner.
