Top-four hopefuls Bayer Leverkusen will look to build on their win last time out when they hit the road to face SC Freiburg.
SC Freiburg will be looking to return to winning ways when they host Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday in Matchday 25 of the Bundesliga. Neither team has been in the best of form, and this fixture could help them build some momentum for the final phase.
The home team are eight on the table with 33 points in their 24 outings. They have won nine, drawn six and lost nine so far. Freiburg are ten points behind sixth-placed Bayer Leverkusen. They need to put together a good run if they are to finish in a European spot.
Freiburg have only won two out of their last five league games, and they are heading into this fixture on the back of a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Eintracht Frankfurt. Julian Schuster’s men were completely outplayed on the day, and they will have to do much better to stand a chance against Leverkusen.
On the other hand, the visitors are sixth with 43 points in their 24 outings. They have won 13 matches, drawn four and lost seven games so far. Bayer Leverkusen have a nine-point cushion over seventh-placed Frankfurt, and more importantly, they are only three points behind fourth-placed VfB Stuttgart.
Die Werkself need to keep winning to keep their UEFA Champions League hopes alive. Bayer Leverkusen have not been in the best of form as they have only won two out of their last five league games, but they are heading into this fixture on the back of a hard-fought 1-0 win over Hamburger SV, which should give them a lot of confidence. 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 will be without the services of Max Rosenfelder (thigh), Philipp Lienhart (abdominal strain), and Daniel-Kofi Kyereh (knee). Meanwhile, Lukas Kubler remains a doubt, having recently recovered from a hamstring injury.
SC Freiburg will line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, where Noah Atubolu will be in goal. Lukas Kubler and Christian Gunter will be the full-backs, while Matthias Ginter will pair up with Bruno Ogbus in the heart of the defence.
As for the midfield unit, Maximilian Eggestein and Patrick Osterhage will form the double pivot in the centre of the park. The duo will look to shield the backline and ensure the Bayer Leverkusen midfielders do not run the show.
Johan Manzambi will feature as the attacking midfielder, while Jan-Niklas Beste and Yuito Suzuki will take charge out wide on the flanks. The duo will provide width to their attacks, while Igor Matanovic will lead the line for SC Freiburg against Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday.
Probable lineup (4-2-3-1): Atubolu; Treu, Ginter, Ogbus, Gunter; Eggestein, Osterhage; Beste, Manzambi, Suzuki; Matanovic
Bayer Leverkusen
Arthur (ankle) suffered a blow in their last outing, and he has joined Loic Bade (thigh), Nathan Tella (foot), Malik Tillman (ankle), Mark Flekken (knee), Victor Boniface (knee), Eliesse Ben Seghir (ankle), and Lucas Vazquez (unspecified) on the sidelines. Meanwhile, Patrik Schick is a doubt because of a muscular issue.
Bayer Leverkusen will stick to the 3-4-2-1 formation, where Janis Blaswich will take charge in goal. Edmond Tapsoba, Robert Andrich and Jarell Quansah will feature in the heart of the defence. They will receive significant support from Ernest Poku and Alejandro Grimaldo, who will be the two wing-backs.
As for the midfield unit, Equi Fernandez and Aleix Garcia will feature in the centre of the park. The duo will look to ensure they dominate the ball and control the pace of this fixture. Ibrahim Maza and Jonas Hofmann will be the two creative midfielders behind striker Christian Kofane, who will spearhead the Bayer Leverkusen attack against SC Freiburg on Saturday.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Blaswich; Quansah, Andrich, Tapsoba; Poku, Fernandez, Garcia, Grimaldo; Hofmann, Maza; Kofane
Key Stats
- Bayer Leverkusen have only won one out of their last four outings across competitions.
- SC Freiburg have won three and lost three out of their last six outings.
- Kasper Hjulmand’s team have only lost one out of their last 11 games in all competitions.
- Freiburg’s last home defeat came back in August against FC Augsburg.
- Leverkusen secured a comfortable 2-0 win at home last time out.
Player to Watch
Aleix Garcia
Garcia has only gone from strength to strength since joining Bayer Leverkusen from Girona in the summer of 2024. The Spaniard has established himself as one of their mainstays, and he has been one of their standout performers this season.
The 28-year-old has 12 goal contributions in his 38 outings despite playing in a deeper role in midfield. He is the one who dictates the pace of the game, and if Leverkusen are to trouble Freiburg at home, they will certainly need the Spanish international at his absolute best.
Prediction
SC Freiburg 1-2 Bayer Leverkusen
SC Freiburg have been quite solid at home this season, and they will certainly look to make life difficult for Bayer Leverkusen. With the backing of the home crowd and a disciplined defensive setup, the hosts will try to frustrate the visitors.
However, Bayer Leverkusen arguably have the better quality across the pitch and will be desperate to keep their Champions League hopes alive. If Aleix Garcia manages to control the tempo, the visitors should create enough opportunities to get the job done.
Freiburg are expected to put up a fight, but Bayer Leverkusen might just have enough to secure an important away win. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-1 victory for Kasper Hjulmand and his charges.
