Freiburg went into tonight's match with Eintracht Frankfurt looking to overtake the visitors in the race for Champions League qualification.
Frankfurt started brightly but were unable to break the deadlock in a tight first 45 minutes.
The home side came on strong in the closing stages but Max Kruse and Johannes Flum both spurned chances to score a late winner.
Look back at a frustrating night for both sides with Sports Mole's minute-by-minute commentary below.
Hello German football fans! Another packed weekend of Bundesliga action kicks off tonight as Freiburg and Frankfurt meet in a match between this season's surprise packages.
Both teams can guarantee they will finish round 23 in fourth spot with a win tonight as the race for Champions League football hots up in Germany. Freiburg are the team in form and have won their last two matches in some style. Frankfurt arrive at the Mage-Solar Stadion on the back of a crushing 3-0 defeat to Borussia Dortmund last weekend.
Frankfurt coach Armin Veh is without key midfielder Takashi Inui tonight through suspension. The Japanese playmaker has been outstanding this season and will be sorely missed in Freiburg tonight.
BREAKING TEAM NEWS The starting XI's for both sides at the Mage-Solar are in and Freiburg are also without January signing Srdjan Lakic through injury.
FREIBURG: Baumann, Sorg, Ginter, Diagne, Guede, Schmid, Schuster, Makiadi, Caliguri, Rosenthal, Kruse
FRANKFURT: Trapp, Jung, Zambrano, Anderson, Oczipka, Schwegler, Rode, Aigner, Celozzi Meier, Matmour
A surprising omission for the visitors is striker Olivier Occean. The Canadian has not started for six weeks but was expected to partner Meier and Matmour in attack tonight. A more conservative lineup means Stefano Celozzi starts in a defensive midfield role for Frankfurt.
If Frankfurt are to secure the point they need to stay fourth tonight talisman Alexander Meier needs to start firing again. The club's top scorer has not found the net in his last four matches to halt a run which had seen the forward score 12 in his first 19 league games.
Freiburg are full of confidence and will look to in-form winger Max Kruse to spearhead their charge tonight. The 24-year-old has been attracting admirers across Europe with his direct, clinical style.
There is just time before the two teams emerge for me to register a prediction. Both sides have defied the odds this season with styles reliant on high-energy and constant pressing. I think Freiburg can ride their wave of confidence to make things interesting in the Champions League hunt with a 2-1 victory.
Another player to keep a close eye on this evening is Karim Matmour, who has shown glimpses of real quality throughout the campaign. The Algerian playmaker is not often on the scoresheet but his accurate range of passing is integral to Frankfurt's style of play.
We are underway at the Mage-Solar Stadion. Frankfurt are in a changed white strip while Freiburg line up in their usual distinctive all-Maroon kit.
Frankfurt have made a positive start and win a free-kick in the opposition half. A lovely interchange between Roder and Meier nearly has the visitors in soon after but Freiburg drop deep and eventually clear their lines.
Roder is quickly involved again but his drive from range is deflected wide by Jonathan Schmid. Frankfurt can be encouraged by a start which has the home side firmly on the defensive. A high pressing style is evident early on which should lead to an open game at both ends of the pitch.
Freiburg are still penned back in their own half but escape from another set piece as Schwegler sends a looping header over the crossbar.
The home side have been very sloppy in possession early on, particularly in central midfield. Finally a neat pass sees Karim Guede drive forward from a wide are and alleviate the pressure on a deep Freiburg defence.
OFFSIDE! Frankfurt have had a goal disallowed through Stefan Aigner. The forward raced through and slotted home unchallenged but was judged to be marginally offside. Replays suggest that the linesman got the decision just about right but Aigner clearly does not agree.
Freiburg are definitely missing the precision passing of Takashi Inui in midfield as Rode and Celozzi continue to find forward options with ease. Despite their early dominance of territory the visitors have not created a cleat-cut opportunity at this stage.
SHOT! The visitors pour scorn over my observation by creating a gilt-edged chance just moments ago. Aigner took advantage of a mix-up between Makiadi and Diange to race through before hitting the side netting from close range. Freiburg are extremely fortunate not to have fallen behind on that occasion.
Caliguri has gone down under a heavy challenge from Aigner but is quickly back to his feet after failing to win a free kick.
Carlos Zambrano repays Caliguri almost instantly for his simulation with a robust tackle out wide. The young winger is not happy but once again any protests are immediately waved away by the referee.
Freiburg may have made a quiet start but you can see why they have such a proud defensive record this season. The home side have conceded just 22 goals this season, with only runaway leaders Bayern Munich conceding fewer to date.
SAVE! Meier forces Baumann to make a routine save with a header at the far post. After rising highest and beating his marker Frankfurt's top scorer should really have done better from close range.
Aigner is the latest player to go down in pain after twisting his knee under the full weight of a challenge by Makiadi. The Frankfurt forward looks to be in some pain but has limped to the touchline with some help. Aigner has looked lively in the early stages and the visitors cannot afford to lose the pacy forward.
The home crowd are in brilliant voice as they aim to get a response from Freiburg. Max Kruse and Rosenthal combine to pick out Schmid out wide but his cross is cut out bravely by Bamba Anderson at the near post.
Thankfully for Frankfurt Aiger is back on the pitch and the visitors are restored to 11 men. Matmour nearly combines with his strike partner but is second touch is too heavy and takes him wide of goal.
Freiburg win a free kick in the final third for Celozzi's foul on Karim Guede. A hopeful cross is easily cut out and Frankfurt are back in possession.
Kruse and Guede attempt a counter but a lack of options sees a promising break end without a meaningful strike or cross. Freiburg's frenzied support are growing frustrated with a lackluster display from the home side.
Caliguri is lucky to avoid the game's first caution for a late tackle on Celozzi.
YELLOW CARD! Less than a minute after his first indiscretion Caliguri is fractionally late again and this the referee has run out of patience. The winger becomes the first player to be booked this evening three minutes before the break.
Frankfurt win a corner but Oczipka's wayward delivery is sent well wide by Schwelger who attempted a volley just inside the penalty area.
YELLOW CARD! Matmour decides to take revenge on Caliguri and his clumsy tackle earns the forward a quick and unnecessary caution.
HALF-TIME: Freiburg 0-0 Frankfurt
A match which promised much before kickoff has flattered to deceive in the opening 45 minutes. Frankfurt have tried to force the issue with a high, pressing style but have been unable to break the deadlock. Freiburg have been disappointing, particularly when you consider their fine form in 2013.
Despite dominating possession and territory for most of the match so far Frankfurt have to test Baumann in the Freiburg goal. A point would actually suit the visitors this evening and ensure they stay in fourth place and the final Champions League place.
Both sides have attacking options on the bench to call upon if things don't improve after the interval. Expect to see Frankfurt introduce Olivier Ocean early in the second half.
Let's hope a match that looked full of goals can come to life after the break. Freiburg in particular need a vast improvement to appease their raucous home support and keep their surprise Champions League push on track. A reminder that the home side can move above Frankfurt into fourth place with three points this evening.
SUBSTITUTION: Frankfurt have wasted no time in bringing on Occean. The forward has replaced Matmour, who was on a yellow card after a stupid late lunge just before the break. The visitors will look to use the Canadian's pace and power to unlock a dogged Freiburg defence.
We are back underway at the Solar-Magne Stadion and Frankfurt are straight into a pattern of possession that was commonplace throughout the first half.
Makiadi sends in a dangerous cross for the home side but Kevin Trapp is quick off his line to intercept with a clean catch. That is the first time Freiburg have worked an opening out wide and produced a quality delivery.
Schmidt wins possession deep in the final third and sends a pinpoint diagonal pass to Kruse at the far post. Unfortunately for Freiburg the forward is unable to control and a small sight of goal is quickly closed down by two Frankfurt defenders.
SUBSTITUTION: Freiburg are forced into a change as Falou Diagne hobbles off with an injury. On comes Czech defender Pavel Krmas to take his place and provide cover at centre-back.
This match has looked anything but a clash between fourth and fifth in the Bundesliga. Both sides will care very little about public perception if they can snatch a winner in the final 30 minutes of the match.
Aigner tries to inject some pace in the final third but after working some space out wide his pass to Oczipka is too heavy and forces the full-back to send a hopeful cross into the waiting arms of Baumann.
YELLOW CARD! Caliguri is involved again but this time he is the innocent party. The winger is hacked down by Sebastian Jung after winning the ball deep in the opposition half. Jung walks away but is called back by the referee to be booked for his late lunge.
SUBSTITUTION: The home side make their second change of the evening, bringing on Johannes Flum for Karim Guede.
OFF THE LINE! Schmid drives forward from full-back and wins a corner for Freiburg. Kruse's superb delivery is met with a powerful header from the substitute Flum which looks destined for the net. Luckily for Frankfurt Celozzi is perfectly placed to produce a last-ditch clearance at the far post. That is by far the closest we have come to a goal this evening.
Rosenthal tries his luck from distance for Freiburg but his effort lacks the power or accuracy to test Trapp. Frankfurt take the chance to break clear but Jung's shot at the other end is equally wayward and gets deflected clear by Krmas.
CHANCE! Aigner comes within inches of meeting Oczipka's drive at the far post. The winger is at full stretch but is still unable to make any firm contact with the heavy cross and Frankfurt's first opening of the second half goes by without troubling Baumann. Both keepers could not have expected such a quiet night at the office before kickoff!
Both teams are running out of ideas with 15 minutes left to play. Occean has had virtually no service since coming on at the break, with the powerful striker reduced to running down the channels and putting Freiburg's full-backs under pressure.
CHANCE! Out of absolutely nothing Freiburg have just created the best chance of the match. Kruse beat the offside trap but could only send a low shot into the legs of Trapp, who was off his line quickly to keep the game goalless. Kruse had time and space to pick his spot and a more composed finish would have put the home side ahead.
Freiburg are finally showing some urgency, but has it come too late? Frankfurt have not scored in their last two matches and are 10 minutes away from extending that unwanted record!
Frankfurt launch a counter as Jung sends in a decent cross to the penalty area. Occean times his run to beat the offside trap but his hopes of a strike at goal are thwarted by Baumann, who punches clear with both fists.
CHANCE! Flum has just sent a header over the bar from six yards out. The substitute was completely unmarked and met Rosenthal's cross but put too much power behind a header which had Trapp beaten all ends up. Freiburg have had two gilt-edged chances in the second half to claim fourth place but are still locked at 0-0.
YELLOW CARD! Frankfurt are under pressure and concede a free kick thanks to a late tackle from Schwegler. The visitors clear their lines from Zorg's cross and are close to securing a precious point.
SUBSTITUTION: A late change to help preserve the scoreline for Frankfurt as experienced midfielder Martin Laing comes on in the final few minutes.
Makiadi just inexplicably failed to control the ball after driving into space deep in the box. That might be Freiburg's last chance to snatch a winner on a frustrating night for the home side.
FULL-TIME Freiburg 0-0 Eintracht Frankfurt
So despite a late barrage of pressure Freiburg have to settle for a point against Frankfurt. A battling performance from the visitors sees them stay fourth in the Bundesliga while Freiburg miss out on the chance to move into the Champions League places.
That just about does it for tonight's Bundesliga coverage. Thanks for joining Sports Mole and enjoy a packed weekend of football across the continent. Goodnight!
