VfB Stuttgart vs. SC Freiburg preview: Can Freiburg bounce back?
Freiburg travel to Stuttgart in a southwest derby for Matchday 3, as Christian Streich looks to turn things around after a disastrous second half performance against Dortmund last week.
| Vincenzo Grifo. | Photo: GEPA Pictures/Roger Petzsche |
VfB Stuttgart
Stuttgart are still searching for their first league win of the season, as Freiburg are the next club up in town. Striker Sasa Kalajdzic hasn’t scored, but leads the league with three assists. Amidst rumors of a move away, left-back Borna Sosa is likely to make his return to the starting lineup on Matchday 3.
This could mean that winger Silas Katompa Mvumpa pushes further up the pitch in coach Pellegrino Matarazzo’s system, as Tiago Tomas has yet to impress.
In his press conference, Matarazzo stated that, “Freiburg are a complete side who have a solution for every phase in a game…We have to be very alert and recognize exactly what’s required at that moment in each individual period of the match. We have to be very flexible.”
Josha Vagnoman has started every game on the right after his summer transfer from Hamburg, but could miss out with a thigh issue. Center-back Konstantinos Mavropanos could also be a late scratch with his knee injury, as Stuttgart haven’t recorded a clean sheet in 22 Bundesliga home games.
Team News
Tanguy Coulibaly, Nikolas Nartey and Thomas Kastanaras are all out with injuries. Josha Vagnoman and Konstantinos Mavropanos are questionable with knocks.
SC Freiburg
Freiburg will have to bounce back in a big way after their heart-wrenching loss at home to Dortmund last Friday night. Keeper Mark Flekken will especially look to prove doubters wrong after his mistake began Dortmund’s assault on goal in the second half.
But, Freiburg still have a lot of positives to take away from their start to the season. Striker Michael Gregoritsch has won a league-leading 18 aerial duels since his summer transfer from Augsburg. After a productive summer with the Hungarian national team, Roland Sallai is in top-form combining with newcomer Ritsu Doan on the wing.
Matthias Ginter already has a goal and assist in his return back into a Freiburg shirt. Per usual, Christian Günter and Vincenzo Grifo’s link-up play is causing early issues for opposing defenses. Kiliann Sildillia is set to start on the right, but Freiburg supporters still have hopes that huge winter signing, Hugo Siquet can see some quality game action.
When asked about Matchday 2, legendary trainer Christian Streich was, “maximum disappointed…but you have to process it and accept it.” On Stuttgart: "They try to play forward and so do we, it will be a 50/50 game."
Team News
Lucas Höler, Kevin Schade and Kimberly Ezekwem are unavailable with long-term issues. Lukas Kübler is unlikely to return this quickly after picking up a thigh injury.
