Bundesliga 2022-23: Borussia Dortmund vs SC Freiburg: Predicted lineup, injury news, head-to-head, telecast

The Black and Yellows face a strong Breisgau Brazilians on Saturday in the German league.

On Saturday night, a refurbished Borussia Dortmund side hosts their opponents Freiburg in what happens to be a crucial encounter at Signal Iduna Park in Matchday 19 of the Bundesliga.

Borussia Dortmund have shown some character under the management of Edin Terzic and have been in a decent run of form since the turn of this year. Wins in the last three games have brought them right back into contention for the Bundesliga. They are just a mere three points away from league leaders Bayern Munich now.

Dortmund have not lost in their last six home games (W5, D1) and they have never gone longer without defeat at home under Edin Terzic who was their interim coach before the departure of Peter Boscz. A Champions League clash awaits on the horizon against Premier League outfit Chelsea. They could not be in a better run of form scoring at least twice in each of their last five Bundesliga games. Karim Adeyemi scored the opener and Tapsoba’s own goal gave Terzic’s men a comfortable 2-0 away victory at the BayArena against Bayer Leverkusen.

SC Freiburg have had a topsy-turvy run in recent weeks but their brilliant beginning to the campaign still sees them cement their place at 5th in the table. They are just 3 points behind league leaders Bayern. They have picked up 34 points this season out of 18 matches, a feat they last achieved in the 1994-95 campaign. Although they have never been able to win their first two consecutive games in the second half of a top-flight season. Christian Streich will be urging his men to turn the plot this time around. Michael Gregoritsch, Lucas Holer and Phillip Lienhart were all on the scoresheet as they succumbed to a relegation-threatened Augsburg. To add further misery by defeating them 3-1 in their own backyard in their latest run-out in the Bundesliga.

Kick-off: Saturday, 04-02-2023, 08:00 pm (IST), 02:30 pm (GMT)

Borussia Dortmund form (all competition): W-W-W-W-W

SC Freiburg form (all competition): W-D-L-W-L

Player to watch

Borussia Dortmund

Jude Bellingham

He is versatile and unpredictable and, wherever he plays, likes to drift from his starting position. This could be from central midfield out wide, to combine with a wide midfielder or full-back, or from wide into a position between the lines. Already having 10 goals and 4 assists across all competitions this season, he happens to be the main man in midfield for Terzic.

SC Freiburg

Michael Gregoritsch

Although trained as a striker, he rarely plays in his preferred position and is often shifted towards the wings or used as an attacking midfielder. A versatile player by all standards, He has 11 goals and 3 assists in his name across all competitions for Freiburg this season.

Match facts

• Borussia Dortmund have only lost one of their last 22 Bundesliga home games (W18, D3) against SC Freiburg back in October 2001.
• Dortmund have a higher win percentage (64%) and points per game average (2.18) against SC Freiburg than any other team in the current top flight.
• The last time they faced each other in the league, BVB ran out victors by 3-1 after a late comeback courtesy of Bynoe-Gittens, Youssoufa Moukoko and Marius Wolf.

Injury and team news

Thomas Meunier still remains on the sidelines for Dortmund with a torn muscle fibre while the rest of the squad is deemed fit for this fixture. Thorgan Hazard was loaned to PSV on the deadline day of the January transfer window. While Sebastian Haller made his first appearance of the season against Mainz coming off the bench after his long battle with cancer. Questions have been lingering around Bellingham’s transfer who missed out against Mainz due to suspension but he became the youngest-ever captain for Dortmund as they capped off a famous victory at the BayArena.

There are not many concerns as far as injuries go for the side from Breisgau. Michael Gregoritsch has been in phenomenal form this season with Ritsu Doan and Lucas Holer backing him up. A pairing of Mathia Ginter and Phillip Lienhart is expected in the backline with Sildilia and Christian Gunter gunning down the flanks.

Head-to-Head stats

Matches: 38

Borussia Dortmund: 23

Draws: 9

SC Freiburg: 6

Predicted lineup

Borussia Dortmund predicted lineup (4-5-1):

Kobel: Ryerson, Sule, Schollterbeck, Guerreiro: Brandt, Bellingham, Can, Ozcan, Adeyemi: Haller

SC Freiburg predicted lineup (3-5-2):

Flekken: Kubler, Ginter, Lienhart: Sildilia, Eggestein, Keitel, Christian Gunter: Doan, Gregoritsch, Holer

Prediction

Borussia Dortmund have been on an amazing run of form when it comes to this fixture. Although, Freiburg have not shown any signs of backing off this season. Although the odds are relatively low for the visitors to go away and cap a famous victory. We are predicting it to be a draw with both the teams being menacing in front of the goal.

Prediction:  Borussia Dortmund 2-2 SC Freiburg

Telecast

India - SonyLIV

USA - ESPN+, FuboTV

UK - Sky Sports

Nigeria - Canal+ Sport.