Borussia Dortmund vs. Freiburg preview: Can BVB return to winning ways?
Borussia Dortmund will look to bounce back from a goalless draw against Heidenheim when they play host to Freiburg on Friday.
| Photo: Sandro Halank, Wikimedia Commons, CC-BY-SA 4.0 |
Borussia Dortmund
After beginning 2024 with three consecutive wins, Dortmund had to settle for a frustrating goalless draw in last Friday’s away meeting with Heidenheim. While die Schwarzgelben remained in the top four, they are just one point clear of fifth-placed RB Leipzig.
Despite dropping points last weekend, Dortmund can be pleased with the fact they have claimed three clean sheets in their last four league matches. However, they have experienced mixed fortunes in recent matches at Signal Iduna Park, having won two, drawn one and lost two of their previous five home games in the Bundesliga.
Although they have struggled for consistency on home turf, Dortmund can certainly take confidence from their recent record against Freiburg. Die Schwarzgelben have won each of their last four head-to-head meetings, including September’s reverse fixture. On that occasion, Edin Terzic’s side scored two late goals to record a 4-2 victory at Europa-Park Stadion.
Team News
Lukas Nmecha remains sidelined with a hip problem, while Ivory Coast international Sebastien Haller is preparing for Sunday’s Africa Cup of Nations final after scoring in Wednesday’s win over DR Congo. Meanwhile, Terzic has confirmed a late decision will be made on Jadon Sancho’s availability after the Manchester United loanee returned to full training on Thursday.
Freiburg
Freiburg head into Friday’s contest off the back of consecutive 3-1 defeats. After losing to Werder Bremen, Christian Streich’s side experienced a disastrous start against Stuttgart. Deniz Undav and Chris Führich grabbed a goal apiece in the opening seven minutes, before Merlin Röhl was given his marching orders to leave Freiburg with a significant mountain to climb. Although they pulled a goal back through Lukas Kübler in first-half stoppage time, Maximilian Mittelstädt added Stuttgart’s third in the second period to quash Freiburg’s hopes of salvaging a point.
Having won eight, drawn four and lost eight of their 20 league matches, Freiburg are currently in seventh position and three points adrift of Eintracht Frankfurt in sixth spot. Although they will be keen to close that gap on Friday, their recent record at Signal Iduna Park will be a cause for concern. The Breisgau-Brasilianer have lost 14 of their last 15 away games against Dortmund since winning 2-0 in October 2001.
Team News
Freiburg are unable to call upon Matthias Ginter, Philipp Lienhart, Daniel-Kofi Kyereh and Kenneth Schmidt due to injury. Meanwhile, Merlin Röhl is suspended after being sent off against Stuttgart.