Europe-chasing Freiburg seek a third Bundesliga victory in four when they host RB Leipzig at the Europa-Park Stadion on Saturday.
The Breisgau Brazilians have not won consecutive league matches since last year heading into this weekend's gameweek 28 encounter, while the visitors aim to stay within touching distance of fourth-placed Borussia Dortmund in the race for next season's Champions League.
Match preview
Freiburg's first game since Christian Streich announced his summer departure from the club after 12 years saw the BaWu club record a 3-0 triumph at Borussia Monchengladbach.
The Breisgau Brazilians return to the Europa-Park Stadion for the first time since that announcement was made, keen to end a four-match winless Bundesliga run in front of their supporters, with the home side's last success coming against Hoffenheim in January.
Not winning consecutive league games since a three-match sequence of victories in December 2023 does not bode well for the eighth-placed club, who may be 14 points adrift of Leipzig in fifth but sit five back of an Eintracht Frankfurt side occupying sixth.
Finishing sixth is Freiburg's target in the final weeks under their long-serving manager, but they need consistent results to make Europe next season.
That task is stiffer for a side that have not beaten Saturday's opponents in 10 matches, losing six and drawing four since their last triumph in 2019, with Streich's men accruing only one point from a possible 27 against the league's current top-five in 2023-24.
The away side head into Saturday's game in much better shape than their opponents despite being held to a goalless encounter by Mainz to close out March.
Marco Rose's men are undefeated in all competitions since losing 2-1 at Bayern Munich in February, claiming three wins and playing out two draws. Domestically, a four-match sequence without losing has seen three wins and the recent stalemate.
That Mainz tie could prove detrimental to Die Roten Bullen seeking to supplant Borussia Dortmund in fourth in the two-way tussle to end in the coveted Champions League positions.
Having seen Edin Terzic's side claim an unexpected 2-0 victory at Bayern Munich last weekend, three points now separate both in-form clubs heading into the final seven rounds, with third-placed Stuttgart seven ahead of Leipzig and four in front of BVB.
Finishing fifth could still suffice for Rose's men, even if that is contingent on Germany warding off England in the battle to secure an extra Champions League slot next season.
Team News
Streich has several injury issues, with Matthias Ginter (Achilles), Kenneth Schmidt (abdominal) and Noah Weisshaupt (ankle) expected to miss out, while Roland Sallai and Philipp Lienhart (knee) are touch-and-go for Saturday.
Vincenzo Grifo and Lucas Holer have netted seven times in the league, making the Breisgau Brazilians the home side's leading attacking threats.
Die Roten Bullen have Yussuf Poulsen (muscle) as the only reported absentee for their visit to Frankfurt.
Amadou Haidara should return to the away side's midfield after missing out against Mainz due to a one-game suspension following five yellow cards.
Lois Openda netted twice in Leipzig's last away game at Koln (5-1), and the 19-goal man could add to his impressive league tally this weekend.
Freiburg possible starting lineup:
Atubolu; Kubler, Keitel, Gulde; Doan, Eggestein, Hofler, Gunter; Rohl, Grifo; Holer
RB Leipzig possible starting lineup:
Gulacsi; Henrichs, Orban, Castello, Raum; Olmo, Haidara, Schlager, Simons; Openda, Sesko
We say: Freiburg 1-2 RB Leipzig
While the support could inspire an improved performance in Freiburg's first home match since Streich announced his departure, Leipzig's 10-match undefeated run against Saturday's opponents should become 11, with the hosts failing to beat any of the sides fifth or higher in the table in nine outings.
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