SC Freiburg vs. VfL Bochum preview: Hosts aiming for first home win of the season
After winning twice on their travels, Freiburg will attempt to clinch their first home victory when they face a Bochum side, who have lost their opening three Bundesliga games for the third time in their history.
| Christian Streich. |
SC Freiburg
Freiburg head into the contest in a confident mood because apart from a poor 11-minute spell against Borussia Dortmund, they have fared well in their opening three league games.
Augsburg were dispatched via a 4-0 scoreline in Freiburg's Bundesliga opener before they began their home campaign with a meeting against Borussia Dortmund. The Breisgau-Brasilianer looked on course to claim all three points when Michael Gregoritsch scored his second goal since arriving at the club. However, three Dortmund goals in the 11 minutes condemned Freiburg to a 3-1 defeat.
Mark Flekken was criticised for his error that allowed Jamie Bynoe-Gittens to equalise for Dortmund, but the Freiburg goalkeeper responded in impressive fashion last weekend, pulling off a number of fine saves to help his side beat Stuttgart 1-0 thanks to a first half strike from Vincenzo Grifo.
After taking maximum points from their opening two away league games, Freiburg will attempt to claim their first home win of the season on Friday. They are also looking to end a three-game winless home run in the Bundesliga, while they could find the net for a 13th consecutive home league match.
Team News
Maximilian Eggestein is sidelined after fracturing his arm against Stuttgart, with Christian Streich confirming Yannick Keitel as his replacement. The hosts are also unable to call upon Kimberly Ezekwem, Lukas Kübler, Lucas Höler and Kevin Schade.
Vfl Bochum
Unlike their opponents, Bochum have experienced a poor start to the season, losing all three of their league games.
Mainz claimed a narrow 2-1 victory over Bochum on the opening weekend of the season before they spurned a two-goal lead against Hoffenheim to lose 3-2. However, their worst result came on matchday three when they were thrashed 7-0 by Bayern Munich.
Goals from Leroy Sané, Matthijs de Ligt, Kingsley Coman and Sadio Mané gave the German champions a four-goal lead at the break. The Bavarians continued to pile on the misery in the second half, scoring three more goals to condemn Bochum to a heavy defeat.
Although Bochum have made their worst ever start to a Bundesliga campaign, they can at least take confidence from the fact that on the previous two occasions they began a top-flight season with three consecutive defeats, they managed to avoid relegation.
However, after conceding three goals in each of their last four Bundesliga away matches, they will need to improve defensively if they are to claim their first points of the season against Freiburg on Friday.
Team News
Thomas Reis is expected to be without the services of Christopher Antwi-Adjei, Jannes-Kilian Horn and Danilo Soares, who are all injured for Friday's contest.
