Bundesliga | Gameweek 23

Feb 21, 2025 at 7.30pm UK

Schwarzwald-Stadion

Freiburg vs Werder Bremen

Match preview

Freiburg eased past relegation-threatened St Pauli 1-0 on 15 February thanks to Philipp Treu's 88th-minute own goal, but their performance was below par as they managed just two shots from inside the area, including a missed penalty in first-half stoppage time.

It was the hosts' third 1-0 win on the bounce and their three clean sheets in that time are as many as they had kept in their previous 16 matches.

Coach Julian Schuster's side are one of the more perplexing sides in the top flight, with their 29 goals being the sixth-worst return in the Bundesliga, but despite a goal difference of minus seven, they are only one point behind fourth-placed RB Leipzig.

It should be noted that the Breisgau-Brazilians face Leipzig in the league on 8 March, a game that will undoubtedly be crucial in the wider race for European football, with just four points separating ninth-placed Wolfsburg from fourth.

Freiburg's home record is outstanding, having won eight of their last ten matches at the Europa-Park Stadium, including four of their last five.

Their opponents, Werder Bremen, will be disappointed with their poor performance against Hoffenheim, as they only took the lead through an own goal and failed to score despite creating two great chances and hitting the woodwork twice.

The visitors have now conceded 17 goals in their last seven matches, including three in their last two.

Manager Ole Werner will be hoping to avoid a repeat of the 1-0 defeat to Freiburg in the reverse fixture on 5 October, when his side created just one clear-cut chance to the hosts' three.

The green and white's form has been poor in recent weeks, with just one win in their last seven matches, four defeats and two draws.

Werder Bremen are also winless in their last three away games - losing two - and have conceded nine goals in that time without scoring twice.

Recent Performance

Freiburg Bundesliga form:LLLWWW

Werder Bremen Bundesliga form:DLDWLL

Team News

Freiburg midfielder Daniel-Kofi Kyereh is sidelined until early March, while centre-back Manuel Gulde is out with a back injury.

Matthias Ginter and Philipp Lienhart have been regulars at the heart of defence, and could be protected by a double pivot of Maximilian Eggestein and Nicolas Hofler on Friday.

In attack, wingers Ritsu Doan and Vincenzo Grifo will flank striker Lucas Holer.

As for Werder Bremen, striker Keke Topp will be sidelined until the end of February with an ankle injury, and his absence leaves Andre Silva as the most likely candidate to start up front.

Elsewhere, Senne Lynen could feature in a three-man midfield alongside Romano Schmid and Leonardo Bittencourt.

Amos Pieper, Niklas Stark and Anthony Jung are likely to start in a back three, given that Milos Veljkovic was forced off against Hoffenheim with a back problem and Marco Friedl is not expected to return until April.

Possible starting lineup

Freiburg possible starting lineup:

Atubolu; Sildillia, Ginter, Lienhart, Gunter; Hofler, Eggestein; Doan, Rohl, Grifo; Holer

Werder Bremen possible starting lineup:

Zetterer; Pieper, Stark, Jung; Weiser, Lynen, Bittencourt, Schmid, Kohn; Ducksch, Silva