Match Preview: Borussia Dortmund Travel to Freiburg

A Winning Streak!

After an unnecessarily exhausting midweek match in the DFB-Pokal, Borussia Dortmund will now travel to face SC Freiburg in the Bundesliga. For just the next few minutes, let’s focus on the good news. Borussia Dortmund is, just barely, on a winning streak! We’ve won two games in a row and will now try to make it three against a tough but manageable Freiburg team.

More good news; it appears that no major injuries were sustained in the game against Paderborn. After losing our captain to serious injury in this round of the Pokal each of the last two years, avoiding a repeat of that fate should count as a minor victory. While Dan-Axel Zagadou, Thorgan Hazard, Roman Burki and Thomas Meunier remain out, no other players were lost in the Pokal this year. Mats Hummels, Raphael Guerreiro and Marco Reus are all expected back in the starting lineup, and the minor injury to Morey should not keep him out.

BVB found a lot of joy in a 4-0 victory against Freiburg in the reverse fixture. Gio Reyna had a hat trick of assists. Emre Can scored on a set piece, and Erling Haaland scored a brace before passing up his chance at a hat trick in the final moments to instead turn provider for Felix Passlack. Despite that heavy defeat, Freiburg under Christian Streich have earned a reputation as a tough and well organized side. They are unbeaten in their last six matches at the Schwarzwald-Stadion. Edin Terzic discussed their intensity and quality as he addressed the press in advance of the game. “They’ll play with intensity from the get-go. We’ll need to be resilient.”

How Will BVB Line Up?

Terzic showed some variation to his tactics and selection for the first time in midweek. After getting some rest for a few key players, I expect him to return to almost the same lineup that found success against Augsburg. Despite Thomas Delaney’s excellent form against Paderborn, I expect Emre Can will return to the lineup to give the Dane a turn to rest. The real question, for me, will be whether Haaland and Sancho will be fit to start. And if they aren’t, will Terzic be strong enough to tell them to take a seat on the bench?

Freiburg did not have a match midweek, and will be well rested and focused. They are expected to maintain their usual 3-4-3 lineup and make the game a constant physical challenge. Young Bosnian striker Ermedin Demirovic will lead the line, while Vincenco Grifo will pose a significant goal threat cutting in from the left side. Nils Peterson has also proven dangerous off the bench for Freiburg this season.

Prediction

I’ll stick with the optimistic focus and predict a solid 3-0 victory for die Schwarzgelben. Haaland and Reus will lead the scorers, while Sancho and Reyna will provide assists. Here we go guys, a 3-0 victory for a 3-0 winning streak. If you dream it, you can achieve it.