Bayern Munich's title charge continues on Saturday when they travel to Europa-Park Stadion where they will face Freiburg in their 19th Bundesliga game of the season.
The hosts are eighth with 27 points and were beaten 4-0 by Stuttgart on January 18, whereas the league leaders defeated Wolfsburg 3-2 last Saturday and have 45 points, maintaining their four-point advantage over second-placed Bayer Leverkusen.
Match preview
© Imago
Freiburg failed to register a single effort on target against Stuttgart and were trailing 1-0 by the second minute after they failed to defend a corner, and they would go on to concede from a second corner in the 17th minute.
The home team have now conceded eight times from corners in the Bundesliga, the joint third-worst record in the division.
Boss Julian Schuster will be concerned that his side have only scored 25 times in the top flight, a return that makes them the top 11's worst offensive club.
Schuster's team have lost three of their four most recent outings and worryingly conceded 15 goals in that period, not keeping a single clean sheet in nine.
It should be noted that Breisgau-Brasilianer's form at Europa-Park Stadion is excellent considering they are unbeaten in six games at home, winning on five occasions.
© Imago
Opponents Bayern created eight big chances against Wolfsburg but conceded twice despite only facing one big chance.
In the reverse fixture, the Bavarians beat Freiburg 2-0 on September 1 in what was a fairly comfortably victory given their opponents' only big chance was a missed 96th-minute penalty.
Manager Vincent Kompany oversaw a 3-0 defeat against Feyenoord in the Champions League on Wednesday, and the result could mean that the visitors will be forced to compete in a round of 16 playoff tie.
Bayern's loss against Feyenoord was just the third time in 28 matches that they have been held at bay, and to their credit they did score 24 goals in their previous seven games.
Kompany's side boast a strong record in recent weeks, with the club winning six of their last eight matches in all competitions and achieving victory in 14 of their past 18 fixtures, drawing three and losing one in that time.
The Bavarians have also triumphed in six of their last 10 Bundesliga games on the road, but have won one, drawn one and lost one of their past three away from home in the league.
- L
- W
- W
- W
- W
- L
Team News
© Imago
Freiburg's injury list is relatively limited, and while midfielders Daniel-Kofi Kyereh and Florent Muslija are set to miss out on Saturday, they are scheduled to return in February.
Maximilian Eggestein and Patrick Osterhage have often featured in midfield this season, and they may do so again on the weekend.
Centre-back Matthias Ginter was forced off against Stuttgart, but he should be available for his side's clash against the Bavarians, and he is almost certain to play alongside Philipp Lienhart.
Bayern will be without suspended midfielder Konrad Laimer, who has played in defence at times, as well as left-back Alphonso Davies and centre-back Hiroki Ito.
Expect Dayot Upamecano and Kim Min-jae to start as centre-backs - alongside full-backs Joshua Kimmich and Raphael Guerreiro - in front of goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.
Harry Kane will lead the visitors' attack, and he is likely to be supported by Leroy Sane, Jamal Musiala and Serge Gnabry.
Freiburg possible starting lineup:
Atubolu; Kubler, Ginter, Lienhart, Gunter; Eggestein, Osterhage; Doan, Dinkci, Grifo; Adamu
Bayern Munich possible starting lineup:
Neuer; Kimmich, Upamecano, Kim, Guerreiro; Pavlovic, Goretzka; Sane, Musiala, Gnabry; Kane
We say: Freiburg 0-3 Bayern Munich
Bayern's phenomenal record in front of goal should make them clear favourites to win on Saturday despite not scoring last time out.
Freiburg have struggled in the final third this campaign, and it would not be surprising if they failed to find the back of the net on the weekend.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Lewis Nolan
