SC Freiburg vs. Darmstadt preview: The Breisgau club host the Lilies
Darmstadt travel to Freiburg who are craving three points on Matchday 12 without a victory in their last three Bundesliga contests.
| Christian Streich. |
SC Freiburg
Freiburg had their chances against Leipzig on Matchday 11, but still went their third straight Bundesliga game without a win. With the international break behind them, the side are struggling through injuries, but do have a favorable schedule ahead.
Every single league game remaining in 2023 is against a club in the bottom half of the table and it starts with Darmstadt this weekend. It’s unclear if Michael Gregoritsch or Lucas Höler will get the start up front, but Noah Weißhaupt and Kilian Sildillia are expected to continue out wide in front of a back three.
Christian Streich commented, "The decisive factor will be with what attitude, with what aggressiveness we go into the duels. If we do it like we did against Leipzig, Leverkusen or Topola, then it's good. We want to build on that."
Team News
Merlin Röhl can’t play after getting injured during the break, while Roland Sallai is available, but isn’t fit enough to start. Christian Günter, Daniel-Kofi Kyereh, Maximilian Philipp, and Lukas Kübler are all expected to be out.
Darmstadt
Darmstadt haven’t won since defeating Augsburg in early October and are steadily dropping back towards the relegation zone. But to lift their spirits this week, trainer Torsten Lieberknecht is back with the team following a family emergency.
Tim Skarke will be the key to ignite the offense on Saturday, as the team still tries to get Luca Pfeiffer on the board with his first goal of the campaign. The Lilies have allowed the most goals in the league and desperately need Jannik Müller and Christoph Zimmermann to round into form.
In his presser, Lieberknecht mentioned, "The opponent will always be the favorite, with the possible exception of the games against Heidenheim. We still want to win the game in Freiburg, we have that self-confidence. But that's a calm self-confidence and not a bunch of big talk.”
Team News
Christoph Klarer is suspended, while starting keeper Marcel Schuhen is questionable along with Oscar Vilhelmsson and Fabio Torsiello. Alexander Brunst should start in Schuhen’s place if he can’t play. Fraser Hornby and Braydon Manu are unavailable.
