Freiburg vs. RB Leipzig preview: Can Rose's side extend their unbeaten run?
RB Leipzig will attempt to extend their unbeaten streak to six competitive matches in Saturday’s clash with Freiburg at the Europa-Park Stadion.
Freiburg
Freiburg returned from the international break with a dominant 3-0 win over Borussia Mönchengladbach. Michael Gregoritsch gave his side a narrow half-time lead, before Merlin Röhl and Ritsu Dōan grabbed a goal apiece in the second period. Not only did Freiburg ease to all three points, but they also claimed their first Bundesliga clean sheet since January.
With Freiburg sitting in eighth position, they are hoping to secure European qualification in Christian Streich’s final season in charge. Although there is a chance seventh spot could become a European place, Freiburg will begin matchday 28 with a five-point gap to Eintracht Frankfurt in sixth position.
Unfortunately for Breisgau-Brasilianer, they are winless in four home league games since beating Hoffenheim on January 20. Having conceded 11 goals across those four home matches, Freiburg know they need to offer an improved defensive display in front of their own supporters.
Team News
The hosts are expected to be without Philipp Lienhart, Matthias Ginter, Noah Weißhaupt Kenneth Schmidt and Daniel-Kofi Kyereh. Meanwhile, Roland Sallai is a doubt after he was forced to miss the win over Gladbach due to injury.
RB Leipzig
RB Leipzig have put together a five-game unbeaten run, including four matches in the Bundesliga. In fact, Leipzig enjoyed a spell of three consecutive league victories before they played host to relegation-threatened Mainz 05 last weekend. The fifth-placed side ultimately had to settle for a goalless draw, leaving them three points adrift of Borussia Dortmund in fourth position.
Marco Rose’s charges will now head on their travels, where they will be looking to claim a third successive away league win after recording dominant victories in their last two road trips. Leipzig eased to a 4-1 win over Bochum before they thumped Köln 5-1 in their most recent away game.
Leipzig will fancy their chances of collecting three points against Freiburg, having won each of their previous three head-to-head league meetings. Die Roten Bullen ran out 3-1 winners when the two sides faced off at the Red Bull Arena in November.
Team News
Yussuf Poulsen is unable to feature after he sustained a hamstring injury in the recent draw with Mainz.
