Borussia Dortmund will be eyeing a third straight win in the league when they hit the road to square up against SC Freiburg.
SC Freiburg will look to return to winning ways when they host giants Borussia Dortmund at the Europa-Park Stadion on Sunday evening.
The home team are 10th on the Bundesliga table with just 16 points in their 13 outings, thanks to four wins, four draws and five defeats. While they have won two out of their last five league outings, they are heading into this one on the back of a 2-1 defeat to Heidenheim.
However, they did return to winning ways in Europe as they got the better of Red Bull Salzburg in the Europa League. With the visitors going down to ten men within the first half, Freiburg dominated the proceedings and got the job done. It will certainly give them some confidence heading into this big clash.
Meanwhile, the visitors are 3rd on the table with 28 points in their 13 outings with eight wins, four draws and a defeat. They are just a point behind second-placed RB Leipzig with a game in hand, so a win here will be enough to leapfrog them.
However, they are nine points behind league leaders Bayern Munich, and will have to keep winning to have the smallest of chances of pushing for the title. While they have won their last two league outings, they are heading into this fixture on the back of a disappointing 2-2 draw against FK Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League.
As a result, Borussia Dortmund will certainly be eager to return to winning ways. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at both teams and tries to predict the tactics they could deploy.
Team News & Tactics
SC Freiburg
The home team remain without the services of Daniel-Kofi Kyereh, while Eren Dinkci and Max Rosenfelder are major doubts for this fixture.
Julian Schuster’s team will line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, where Noah Atubolu will take charge in goal. Lukas Kubler and Philipp Treu should be the full-backs, while Matthias Ginter will partner with Philipp Lienhart in the heart of the defence.
In the centre of the park, Maximilian Eggestein and Patrick Osterhage will form the double pivot with an aim to shield the backline. They will look to ensure Dortmund midfielders do not boss the proceedings.
Jan-Niklas Beste and Vincenzo Grifo will feature on the flanks, providing width to their attacks, while Johan Manzambi will take up the number ten role behind Lucas Holer, who will spearhead the attack.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Atubolu; Kubler, Ginter, Lienhart, Treu; Eggestein, Osterhage; Beste, Manzambi, Grifo; Holer
Borussia Dortmund
Niko Kovac’s team could be without the services of Aaron Anselmino, Waldemar Anton and Marcel Sabitzer as the trio have muscular issues.
The visitors will line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation, where Gregor Kobel will start in goal. Nico Scholtterbeck, Emre Can, and Ramy Bensebaini should form the back three in this fixture.
Julian Ryerson and Daniel Svensson are expected to be the wing-backs, while Carney Chukwuemeka could partner Felix Nmecha in central midfield. The duo will try to control the tempo of the game.
Julian Brandt and Karim Adeyemi will be the attacking midfielders behind Serhou Guirassy, who will spearhead the attack.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Kobel; Schlotterbeck, Can, Bensebaini; Ryerson, Chukwuemeka, Nmecha, Svensson; Brandt, Adeyemi; Guirassy
Key Stats
- The last time the two teams squared up against each other, Dortmund emerged victorious (4-1).
- In the last 35 meetings between the two teams, Freiburg have only won four, while Dortmund have 26 wins to their name.
- Since losing to Bayern Munich in mid-October, Dortmund have been unbeaten in the league.
- The team in yellow and black have only won three out of their last eight games across competitions.
- Freiburg have only lost one out of their last five outings in all competitions.
Player to Watch
Karim Adeyemi
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The 23-year-old is already one of the mainstays at Dortmund. He has shown maturity beyond his years, and it is one of the major reasons why the biggest clubs in Europe are after him. In the ongoing campaign, the German international has been involved in 20 matches across competitions, and he has contributed towards nine goals.
Having bagged two goals in his last three league outings, Adeyemi will be eager to add to his tally against Freiburg and, in the process, help his team secure three important points.
Prediction
SC Freiburg 0-2 Borussia Dortmund
Borussia Dortmund will head into this away fixture full of confidence as they look to register a third straight league win and keep the pressure on the teams above them. Despite a frustrating draw in Europe mid-week, Dortmund have been solid domestically and possess enough firepower to hurt Freiburg, especially in transition.
Freiburg will take heart from their recent European win and their relatively steady home form, but they have struggled for consistency in the league. While Schuster’s men are capable of making things difficult, Dortmund’s superior quality and strong head-to-head record should tilt the balance in their favour. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-0 win for the away team.
