By the time visitors Bayer Leverkusen play fourth-placed Freiburg at Europa-Park Stadion on Sunday, Bayern Munich may have already taken their Bundesliga crown.
The hosts currently have 51 points and occupy the final Champions League qualification spot, whereas second-placed Leverkusen beat Augsburg 2-0 on April 26, but their points tally of 67 is eight fewer than Bayern with just three games remaining.
Match preview
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Freiburg managed to get the better of Wolfsburg last Saturday, emerging as 1-0 victors thanks to Max Rosenfelder’s 41st-minute winner, though they will be disappointed to have produced just one shot on target in the second half given the Wolves were reduced to 10 men in the 26th minute.
Julian Schuster‘s side kept their first clean sheet in six matches, a period in which they conceded 11 goals and scored on 10 occasions.
Breisgau-Brasilianer are only two points ahead of fifth-placed RB Leipzig, but they are also only four points behind third-placed Eintracht Frankfurt, who they play in their final game of the season on May 17.
The hosts come into Sunday’s clash on the back of three successive victories, though they did draw three and lose two of their prior five.
Freiburg’s form at Europa-Park Stadion has been less consistent considering they have only triumphed once in their last four at home, succumbing to defeats twice in that time.
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Meanwhile, Leverkusen only created one big chance compared to Augsburg’s two when they faced off, generating just one attempt on target from inside the box in the second half.
The visitors should be credited with keeping three clean sheets in their four most recent outings, but they only found the back of the net four times in that period.
Even if Die Schwarzroten manage to win on Sunday, a draw for Bayern Munich on Saturday against RB Leipzig would all but secure the title given the Bavarians’ goal difference of 61 is 30 more than the current champions’ figure.
Leverkusen will be keen for a repeat of their previous encounter with Freiburg when they were emerged as 5-1 victors on December 21, and they have won three consecutive games against their hosts.
Boss Xabi Alonso has led his team to two wins and two stalemates in his last four fixtures in charge, and they have triumphed in four of their past six in the league while avoiding defeat.
Leverkusen’s most recent away loss in the Bundesliga was against VfL Bochum in late May 2023, a period encompassing 23 wins and eight draws.
Team News
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Freiburg’s only injury concern is midfielder Daniel-Kofi Kyereh, but regulars Maximilian Eggestein and Patrick Osterhage are available.
The duo are likely to be tasked with shielding centre-backs Matthias Ginter and Philipp Lienhart, who started against Wolfsburg.
Junior Adamu may be stationed as the team’s striker ahead of a supporting cast consisting of Ritsu Doan, Lucas Holer and Vincenzo Grifo.
As for Leverkusen, they will be without defenders Jeanuel Belocian, Mario Hermoso and Nordi Mukiele.
Alonso is almost certain to select Edmond Tapsoba, Jonathan Tah and Piero Hincapie in a back three behind midfielders Granit Xhaka and Exequiel Palacios.
In the forward line, Florian Wirtz and Emiliano Buendia could play in attacking roles behind Patrik Schick given Martin Terrier and Victor Boniface are injured.
Freiburg possible starting lineup:
Muller; Kubler, Ginter, Lienhart, Makengo; Eggestein, Osterhage; Doan, Holer, Grifo; Adamu
Bayer Leverkusen possible starting lineup:
Hradecky; Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapie; Frimpong, Xhaka, Palacios, Grimaldo; Buendia, Wirtz; Schick
We say: Freiburg 1-2 Bayer Leverkusen
Although Leverkusen have been strong from a defensive perspective, they will be facing a confident Freiburg side.
While the hosts are likely to pose significant challenges on Sunday, the champions boast a phenomenal away record and could claim all three points.
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