SC Freiburg vs. Hoffenheim preview: Matarazzo’s on thin ice
Following Saturday’s games, Hoffenheim shockingly find themselves dead last in the Bundesliga table and need a result or else Pellegrino Matarazzo could be finished.
| Pellegrino Matarazzo. |
SC Freiburg
Freiburg are coming off a difficult trip to Juventus on Thursday where they fell to the Italian giants 1-0 in the first leg. This continues a troubling trend for the Breisgau club offensively, who have scored just 12 goals in 10 competitive games to start the calendar year.
But, Christian Streich’s side still comfortably sit 5th in the table and are hoping to lock up European football for another season. Freiburg have lost only once in their previous eight encounters with Hoffenheim, as Vincenzo Grifo will be the focal point especially on set-piece play.
Freiburg must be careful not to look ahead to the massive second leg next Thursday.
After the Juventus game, striker Lucas Höler stated, “I was the only one in the box, we have to change that, we have to get more people in the box and become more dangerous. - Now it's time to gather strength and get the three (points) in the Bundesliga."
Team News
Daniel-Kofi Kyereh is out for the rest of the season after tearing his ACL. Woo-yeong Jeong is questionable with an illness and Philipp Lienhart’s status is also up in the air after picking up a thigh injury against Juventus. This could give way to a start for Manuel Gulde.
Hoffenheim
Nobody could have predicted that on Matchday 24 Hoffenheim would be sitting 18th in the Bundesliga. Yet, here we are. They haven’t won a league match since October and Die Kraichgauer are coming off three consecutive 1-0 defeats.
A trip to the Europa-Park Stadion isn’t exactly the place a team would select in desperate need of a point either. Veteran Andrej Kramaric needs to step up for his club that have scored eight goals in their last nine matches and are trying to avoid coming away without a win for a 14th straight league game.
In his press conference, the under-fire Pellegrino Matarazzo said, "We are aware of the topic ‘set-pieces’. We have worked on this more intensively this week and want to be sharper on Sunday. - We need to be alive in every phase of the match and use the ball better."
Team News
Christoph Baumgartner is suspended, while Sebastian Rudy is doubtful with a thigh injury. Kasper Dolberg won’t play after picking up a concussion in training to join the injured Grischa Prömel, Jacob Bruun Larsen, Justin Che and Stanley Nsoki.