German Bundesliga - Freiburg vs. Werder Bremen - Preview & Prediction
Aiming to reach the coveted Top 6 of the Bundesliga for a chance to play in Europe next season, Freiburg are about to play host to Werder Bremen, who remain in a fight to escape relegation. Kick-off - at 9:30 PM ET on Saturday, May 23.
Freiburg Earn Point In Leipzig
Freiburg finally ended their three-game losing streak in Leipzig after snatching an unexpected 1-1 draw against the local Roten Bullen at Red Bull Arena on Saturday. Defender Manuel Gulde opened the scoring 34 minutes into the game following a corner by Vincenzo Grifo before the hosts tied the proceedings 13 minutes from time ahead of a strike by Freiburg’s Robin Koch, whose injury-time marker was disallowed by VAR due to an offside call. Die Breisgauer have now earned four points in their last two matches (W1 D1) after losing their previous two, currently sitting 7th in the league with a W10 D7 L9 record, just two points outside the Top 6.
German striker Nils Petersen leads his team with eight goals this season but has failed to find the back of the net for eight consecutive games since surpassing Germany coach Joachim Low as Freiburg’s all-time leading scorer (84 snipes in 171 appearances). Goalie Alexander Schwolow, meanwhile, sits 16th in the Bundesliga in most saves this year (55), having registered three clean sheets in 17 appearances. He allows a goal every 70 minutes. Freiburg are 11th in most goals scored this season (35) and 9th in most shots taken (13.1%) as well as in ball possession (48.7%) and passing accuracy (78.0%).
Bremen Get Beaten At Home Again
Werder Bremen’s woes continued to mount, as the team was thrashed with a score of 4-1 on own turf by Bayern Leverkusen at Wohninvest-Weserstadion on Monday, thus losing at home for the seventh straight time, being outscored 17-1 in its past six domestic fixtures. Right-back Theodor Gebre Selassie scored the only snipe for the hosts, who ended an eight-hour goal drought in Bremen this season. The team has reached a new club record, conceding at least a goal in each of its last 18 Bundesliga games, and currently sits 2nd from the bottom with a W4 D6 L15 showing, trailing the relegation playoff spot by five points while sitting nine points outside safety altogether.
Kosovar forward Milot Rashica leads Werder Bremen with seven markers, but has failed to get off the mark in 10 straight Bundesliga matches, with his last contribution coming back in Dec. 14 in a 6-1 defeat to Bayern Munich. Goalie Jiri Pavlenka, meanwhile, is 6th in the league in most saves this year (76), having collected one clean sheet in 24 appearances. He gives up a goal every 38 minutes. The Green-Whites are 2nd from the bottom in most goals netted this season (28), 11th in most shots delivered (12.8 per game), 9th in ball possession (48.7%), and 7th in passing accuracy (78.8%).
Prediction
Freiburg is in excellent form this season, having already surpassed their points total of each of the previous two seasons (36) with 37 points from just 26 matches this year. In case of a victory against Werder Bremen, providing that Wolfsburg lose to Borussia Dortmund in another of Saturday’s fixtures, the team is set to move into the 6th place of the Bundesliga. And you can be sure Die Breisgauer will put up a good fight to do so! They have won just one of their last seven meetings with the Green-Whites (W1 D3 L3), but have banked two victories in their previous three domestic outings (W2 L1) and hold a considerable advantage over relegation-bound Bremen morale-wise following the unexpected draw at RB Leipzig last weekend.
Best bet:
Freiburg to win (+120)