It will be fourth versus fifth in the Bundesliga on Saturday as fourth-placed Dortmund clash with fifth-placed Freiburg at the Signal Iduna Park, with kick-off slated for 14:30 GMT.
This match will have a bearing on who stays in the top four through the weekend since the two sides are level on 34 points.
Key Highlights
Dortmund’s Winning Run
Amid a three-match run, Edin Terzić’s charges will be looking to continue their fine vein of form in Bundesliga when they welcome Freiburg to Signal Iduna Park on Saturday.
Dortmund have scored at least 2 goals in each of their last three assignments, which have resulted in three consecutive triumphs. Edin Terzić will focus on maintaining his side’s composure and energy levels as they look to maintain their top-four status.
The clash with Freiburg is important because the two sides are tied by 34 points on the table. The team on the winning end will maintain a top-four status, while the loser could drop to 6th if the 6th-placed Eintracht Frankfurt win their match.
Freiburg’s Stuttering Form
Fifth-placed Freiburg have won just twice in their last five outings; they have also lost twice and had a solitary draw. This stop-start form has led to the slashing of the gap to the chasing pack and exposed them to dropping out of the top four positions.
Christian Streich will be seeking to gain the elusive consistency in the Bundesliga if his charges are to have an impact at the top end of the table.
This will need to start with their direct rivals for a top-four spot Dortmund when they clash on Saturday at Signal Iduna Park.
Injury Report
Dortmund
Edin Terzić’s side will be without right-back Thomas Meunier; the 31-year-old is out with a Torn Muscle Fiber since January 12th. Having missed three matches already due to injury, the club has not set a return date.
Dortmund will also miss the services of Soumaïla Coulibaly; the 19-year-old center-back has been out with a pelvis injury since January 12. The right winger is also unavailable for the clash with Freiburg. The 16-year-old has been sidelined with a muscle partial avulsion since December 6th, 2022.
Freiburg
Christian Streich will be without Roland Sallai for the clash against Dortmund on Saturday. The 25-year-old right-winger has been nursing muscular problems since January 20th. Sallai has missed 3 matches for Freiburg already, and no return date has been set by the club yet.
Freiburg will also be without central midfield Merlin Röhl due to suspension. The midfielder was suspended on January 29th and is expected to return to action by February 4th.
The rest of the squad will be available to Merlin Röhl as he bids to pick the right team to face an in-form Dortmund side away from home.
Possible Lineups
Dortmund
G. Kobel; J. Ryerson, N. Schlotterbeck, N. Sule, M. Wolf; K. Adeyemi, S. Ozcan, E. Can, J. Bellingham, J. Brandt; S. Haller
Freiburg
M. Flekken; L. Kubler, M. Ginter, P. Lienhart; K. Sildillia, M. Eggestein, Y. Keital, C. Gunter; R. Coan, L. Holer; M. Gregoritsch
Prediction
Dortmund will employ direct running, high-pressing, and high-tempo in front of the Signal Iduna Park crowd. Edin Terzić’s will look to leverage the home support to create momentum in this match, push Freiburg back, and create chances throughout the match as they are likely to dominate possession.
Freiburg will seek to be disciplined and tactically astute against a dangerous opponent. They will absorb the early pressure and settle into their passing rhythm and make vertical inroads into the Dortmund box.
Dortmund will have the upper hand and win the match, taking the three points on offer.
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