RB Leipzig vs Freiburg Preview: Team News & Prediction
by Alex Sarwar ·
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RB Leipzig finally get the opportunity to resume their Bundesliga campaign here against Freiburg after their game at the weekend was postponed.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / US – ESPN
How to watch online: UK – Not televised / US – ESPN+
RB Leipzig preview: Gap growing
RB Leipzig needed the winter break when it finally came, having lost consecutive fixtures heading into it. Whilst they were denied the chance to play at the weekend because of snow, they get back underway here in a fixture they need to win in order to draw level on points with third-placed Stuttgart.
The backline of Leipzig was what had fallen apart just prior to Christmas, shipping three goals in back-to-back fixtures, so tightening up defensively needs to be the number one priority for this side as goals shouldn’t be a problem when considering the attacking players at their disposal.
Freiburg preview: Winning return
Freiburg’s return to Bundesliga action this past weekend proved to be a winning return as they edged past Hamburg by 2-1 goals to one, making it back-to-back league victories for Julian Schuster’s side. They’ve closed the gap on their European rivals such as Bayer Leverkusen, who were beaten at the weekend.
This serves as a tough trip from the visitors’ perspective and they’ll need to be at their best defensively. Despite losing just one of their most recent four league games, Freiburg have failed to keep a clean sheet in any of them.
RB Leipzig team news: Bakayoko not back
Johan Bakayoko is yet to recover from injury and miss out here for the hosts. Klostermann faces a late fitness test after struggling with illness.
Predicted XI: (4-3-3): Gulacsi; Baku, Orban, Lukeba, Raum; Baumgartner, Seiwald, Schlager; Diomande, Romulo, Harder
Unavailable: Bakayoko (Injured), Gebel (Injured)
Questionable: Klostermann (Illness)
Freiburg team news: Lienhart joins injured list
Freiburg once again won’t be able to call upon Kyereh and now Lienhart. The latter is suffering with an abdominal problem, whilst Kyereh’s knee injury continues to rule him out.
Predicted XI: (4-2-3-1): Atubolu; Kubler, Ginter, Jung, Gunter; Eggestein, Osterhage; Beste, Manzambi, Grifo; Adamu
Unavailable: Kyereh (Injured), Lienhart (Injured)
Questionable:
RB Leipzig vs Freiburg prediction
RB Leipzig need to make a statement here with victory on their own patch and against a team capable of finishing inside the top six, who have picked up seven points from the last nine available to them. However, the volume of goals conceded by the hosts leading into Christmas is a concern, especially when considering the offensive threat posed by Freiburg.
The visitors have also had their struggles at the back and the likes of Diomande and Harder should be afforded plenty of room to fashion opportunities going forward for the home side. With that in mind, backing both teams to score in this one should be seriously considered, regardless of who comes out on top.
RB Leipzig vs Freiburg tip: Both teams to score
