Both sides could be celebrating on Saturday, as Freiburg host fellow Champions League hopefuls Eintracht Frankfurt on the Bundesliga’s last matchday.
While victory for either would seal the deal, defeat would not prove disastrous if fifth-placed Borussia Dortmund slip up. Furthermore, three points will take Freiburg above their visitors into third, matching the Black Forest club’s best-ever finish.
Match preview
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Consigning minnows Holstein Kiel to the drop, Freiburg boosted their Champions League qualification hopes last week, when they scored twice after falling behind to record a vital 2-1 win.
As a result, victory on the final day would not only wrap up a top-four spot but also secure their highest Bundesliga finish for 30 years, when they last reached the heady heights of third place.
Furthermore, Freiburg could become the first team ever to finish inside the top four with a negative goal difference – they are on -2 as things stand – while they would become the 16th different German club to qualify for UEFA’s top tournament, extending their nation’s overall record.
Though Julian Schuster‘s side have picked up 13 of a possible 15 points over the last five matchdays – a joint league high – anything other than victory at Europa-Park Stadion would open the door to Borussia Dortmund.
Spoiling all their hard work, they could yet end up fifth – in the worst-case scenario of a defeat and a Dortmund win or draw – so Schuster will be targeting maximum points.
Freiburg may have lost their last four Bundesliga games on the final matchday, but each one was on the road; they have won all the last three at home, and another success on Saturday would spark scenes of joy.
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Meanwhile, Eintracht Frankfurt – who are unbeaten in their last five fixtures on the final day – occupy the strongest position of all three contenders.
They missed the chance to confirm Champions League qualification after being held to a 2-2 draw by St. Pauli last week, but a draw or better in Freiburg will get them over the line.
Defeat could still send them crashing out of the top four, but Dortmund would also have to overturn Frankfurt’s superior goal difference, which stands at +20 compared to BVB’s +17.
Throughout the three-points-per-win era, no side has ever blown such a big advantage over fifth place on the last matchday, so history suggests Dino Toppmoller‘s side should be safe.
Doubts may linger, as Die Adler have won only one of their last seven Bundesliga away games – at Bochum, in mid-March – but their recent record against Freiburg bodes well.
Following a 4-1 home win in this season’s reverse fixture, Frankfurt are unbeaten in five against this week’s hosts, losing just one of their last 10 league meetings.
Team News
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Freiburg boss Julian Schuster should be able to pick from an almost fully fit squad, with midfielder Daniel-Kofi Kyereh his only confirmed absentee; Eren Dinkci may also miss out with a muscular injury.
Set to support Junior Adamu and Lucas Holer – the latter of whom scored the winning goal against Kiel last week – Italy international Vincenzo Grifo has registered 11 Bundesliga assists this season, setting a new club best since such records began in 2004.
In fact, having also scored eight, Grifo has had a hand in 19 goals so far, and he needs just one more to match his previous personal best (20 in 2022-23). Winger Ritsu Doan – recently linked with both Dortmund and Frankfurt – is set to join him in the final third.
Meanwhile, Eintracht are missing veteran playmaker Mario Gotze (hamstring) and young goalkeeper Kaua Santos (knee) due to injury; Tuta might also be sidelined by a knee problem.
Head coach Dino Toppmoller, who has just signed a fresh deal until 2028, could turn to Nnamdi Collins if the latter cannot win his fitness race. Either should join Robin Koch and Arthur Theate in the visitors’ back three.
Freiburg possible starting lineup:
Atubolu; Rosenfelder, Ginter, Lienhart, Makengo; Osterhage, Eggestein; Doan, Holer, Grifo; Adamu
Eintracht Frankfurt possible starting lineup:
Trapp; Collins, Koch, Theate; Kristensen, Larsson, Skhiri, Brown; Knauff, Bahoya; Ekitike
We say: Freiburg 1-1 Eintracht Frankfurt
Depending on Dortmund’s fortunes at home to relegated Kiel, a draw could secure a top-four slot for both clubs, as the Bundesliga’s Champions League race goes down to the wire.
Freiburg are tough to beat on home turf, while Frankfurt have lost only five times on the road, so a stalemate is perhaps the likeliest outcome.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
