Dortmund face Freiburg with Champions League places in focus
Borussia Dortmund host SC Freiburg at the Westfalenstadion on Sunday in a Bundesliga encounter with significant implications for the European qualification picture. The match, kicking off at 17:30 CET, sees a Dortmund side looking to cement second place against an in-form Freiburg team chasing a potential extra European berth for the league.
Dortmund's form has dipped at a critical stage, suffering back-to-back league defeats for the first time this season. A controversial 2-1 loss to Hoffenheim last weekend leaves them just five points ahead of RB Leipzig. With the title already secured by Bayern Munich, securing automatic Champions League qualification is now the primary objective for Edin Terzć's side, who will be motivated by a strong historical record against their upcoming opponents.
Freiburg arrive in the Ruhrpott on a notable run of form, having won six of their last seven matches across all competitions, the sole defeat coming against Bayern. Their momentum was checked, however, by a draining DFB-Pokal semi-final defeat to Bayer Leverkusen on Thursday, which went to extra time. Julian Schuster's squad must now regroup quickly for a venue where they have not won a league match since 2001.
The team news presents challenges for both sides. Dortmund will be without several key players, including Karim Adeyemi due to muscular problems, joining the injured Emre Can, Felix Nmecha, and Niklas Süle on the sidelines. This likely forces changes, with a predicted back three of Waldemar Anton, Nico Schlotterbeck, and Ramy Bensebaini ahead of goalkeeper Gregor Kobel.
Freiburg's squad is less depleted by injury, with only Max Rosenfelder and Patrick Osterhage ruled out, but the potential for fatigue following their midweek cup exertions is a significant concern. Noah Atubolu is expected to start in goal behind a back four, with the experienced Matthias Ginter marshalling the defence. The midfield battle, featuring Dortmund's Marcel Sabitzer and Jude Bellingham against Freiburg's Vincenzo Grifo and Maximilian Eggestein, could prove decisive.
The result carries weight for the European landscape. A Dortmund victory would solidify their hold on second place, while a win for Freiburg would boost their own hopes of qualifying for Europe, potentially through an extra slot earned by German clubs' performances in continental competition this season. The encounter promises to be a tactical contest between a home side seeking stability and visitors aiming to capitalize on any lingering fatigue or disappointment.
