With three matches remaining in the Bundesliga season, and 12 points up for grabs, Freiburg are in with a shot at finishing in the top four. Fifth-placed Freiburg are two points behind fourth-placed RB Leipzig, and they face eight-placed Hoffenheim on Saturday at the Rhein-Neckar Arena starting at 17:30GMT.
Match Preview
Can Hoffenheim win their First Match in Six Bundesliga Outings?
Eighth-placed Hoffenheim will be looking to get maximum points to bolster their chances of finishing higher in the table and qualifying for either the UEFA Europa or UEFA Conference League tournaments for next season.
They will also be looking to end their winless run in the Bundesliga, which has lasted six matches when they clash with SC Freiburg on Saturday.
After two consecutive draws, Hoffenheim will look to make home ground advantage count when they face top-four-chasing SC Freiburg.
Can SC Freiburg make it Four Bundesliga Matches Unbeaten?
SC Freiburg will be disappointed because they could only draw 3-3 with Borussia Monchengladbach when fourth-placed Leipzig surprisingly lost 2-1 to Union Berlin.
However, they managed to cut the gap to fourth by a point down to two points with three matches remaining in the season.
Freiburg cannot afford to drop any points in the remaining three matches, starting with Saturday’s clash away at Hoffenheim, as they seek to overhaul Leipzig’s two-point lead at fourth place.
Form Guide
Hoffenheim
After winning four consecutive Bundesliga matches, Hoffenheim have not won in their last six outings.
The drop in form has seen them drop down to eight on the table and extinguished their chances of qualifying in the top four.
They have drawn three times and lost three times, including a run of three straight defeats and two consecutive draws.
Freiburg
In their last ten matches, Freiburg went unbeaten for six matches before the 4-1 defeat against Bayern Munich.
They bounced back straight away with two wins and a draw, as they stepped up their bid to qualify for the top four.
In their last six Bundesliga outings, Freiburg have collected 11 points and dropped seven points (three wins, one draw, and two losses).
Team News
Hoffenheim
Hoffenheim will be missing four centre-backs from the clash against Freiburg; these include Chris Richards, Havard Nordtveit, Benjamin Hubner, and Ermin Bicakcic.
The 32-year-old Ermin Bicakcic has been missing since August 9th, 2021, with fitness issues. The 32-year-old Hubner (back trouble) has been out since March 31st.
The 31-year-old Nordtveit and 22-year-old Richards are both out with hamstring injuries.
Hoffenheim will also be without defensive midfielder Florian Grillitsch (muscle injury), central midfielder Dennis Geiger (coronavirus), and left midfielder Marco John (shoulder injury).
SC Freiburg
Freiburg will be without left winner Noah Weibhaupt for the clash against Hoffenheim. The 20-year-old is sidelined with a shoulder injury.
Centre-forward Nils Petersen is likely to miss the match with illness, whereas right winger Ken Schade is a doubt for the match in Hoffenheim with an abdominal strain.
Long-term absentee, defensive midfielder Yannick Keitel is not expected to be fit for the math at Hoffenheim. The 22-year-old is recovering from a fractured toe since February 17th, 2022.
Possible Starting Lineups
Hoffenheim
Baumann; S. Posch, K. Vogt, K. Akpoguma; D. Raum, A. Stiller, D. Samassekou, I. Bebou; J. Larsen, A. Kramaric; M. Dabour
SC Freiburg
Flekken; L. Kubler, P. Lienhart, N. Schlotterbeck, C. Gunter; R. Sallai, M. Eggestein, N. Hofler, V. Grifo; W. Y. Jeong; E. Demirovic
Players to Watch
I. Bebou
The wide player is the driving force behind most of Hoffenheim’s attacking play this season. Bebou has seven goals and two assists in 26 appearances for Hoffenheim; these numbers underscore his importance to the team. He will be crucial in the clash with Freiburg.
V. Grifo
The attacker has grabbed nine goals this season with six assists, in 31 appearances for Freiburg.
He is Freiburg’s most potent attacking weapon, and he will be crucial for the team when they face Hoffenheim on Saturday, as they seek to apply pressure on fourth-placed RB Leipzig in the remaining three matches.
Prediction
Freiburg will seek to dominate the match by bossing possession with a direct and vertical attacking play. They will be under pressure to win the match as they fight for the top four.
Hoffenheim will also seek to play attacking football through quick counter-attacking and proactive counter-pressing.
SC Freiburg are favoured to win this match and take all three points.
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