Borussia Dortmund vs. Freiburg preview: Die Schwarzgelben aiming for another victory
Borussia Dortmund have the chance to claim a fourth successive win in the Bundesliga when they play host to Freiburg on Saturday.
Karim Adeyemi. | Photo: Onefootball |
Borussia Dortmund
Borussia Dortmund have recorded three consecutive victories since the World Cup break, and as a result, they have moved into the top four of the Bundesliga table. After beating Augsburg 4-3 and claiming a 2-1 victory over Mainz, Edin Terzić's side added three more points to their tally with a win over Bayer Leverkusen last weekend.
Karim Adeyemi opened the scoring before an Edmond Tapsoba own goal doubled the advantage, and with Leverkusen unable to find a route to goal, Dortmund celebrated a 2-0 victory and their first clean sheet of 2023.
Following Bayern's run of three consecutive league draws, Die Schwarzgelben may now be harbouring hopes of mounting a serious title challenge with three points separating them from the league leaders.
Dortmund have won five and drawn one of their last six Bundesliga home games. After scoring 12 goals in their previous three home league matches, they will believe that they have the firepower to claim all three points on Saturday.
Team News
Thomas Meunier, Abdoulaye Kamara and Mateu Morey are all expected to miss out through injury. Meanwhile, Salih Özcan is suspended after picking up his fifth yellow card of the Bundesliga season during the win over Leverkusen.
Freiburg
Freiburg are currently level on points with Dortmund, but they sit just outside the top four on goal difference. After beginning 2023 with a disappointing 6-0 defeat to Wolfsburg, Freiburg responded by holding Eintracht Frankfurt to a 1-1 draw, before they beat Augsburg last weekend.
Michael Gregoritsch found the net against his former club to open the scoring, before Mergim Berisha equalised from the penalty spot. However, Freiburg retook the lead through Lucas Höler and Philipp Lienhart made sure of the three points, adding a third goal in the 85th minute.
While Freiburg are now unbeaten in eight home league games, they have won only one of their previous six away matches in the topflight. Christian Streich will be concerned that his side have conceded at least two goals in four of their last five Bundesliga away games.
If Freiburg are to move above Borussia Dortmund this weekend then they will have to claim an away victory over Die Schwarzgelben for the first time since October 2001.
Team News
The visitors have no fresh injury concerns ahead of Saturday's game, but Streich has revealed that he could make "three of four changes" to the starting lineup. Nicolas Höfler was suspended for the win against Augsburg, but he will be available for the away meeting with Dortmund.