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SC Freiburg – Bayer Leverkusen
On Sunday, the 22nd matchday in the Bundesliga features two absolute cracker games. The most exciting duel will take place at 17:30 in Munich. There, the league leader Bayern receives the third-placed Union Berlin (Bayern vs. Union tip). Before this encounter, however, there is already a hot duel in Breisgau. Two teams that are in the last 16 of the Europa League will meet there. SC Freiburg will receive Bayer Leverkusen.
So far, Freiburg has once again played a very strong Bundesliga season. However, coach Christian Streich’s team got off to a bad start at the start of the new year, losing 6-0 in Wolfsburg. Since then, however, the SCF has stabilised again and is still in fourth place in the table. The previous week, the Breisgau side won 2-0 in Bochum.
Leverkusen, on the other hand, has played a very changeable season so far. After the Werkself had recovered under the new coach Xabi Alonso, the next phase of weakness set in during the last few Bundesliga games. Bayer is currently only in tenth place in the league. In the Europa League, however, the Rhinelanders managed to reach the last 16 against AS Monaco on Thursday. Find out whether the Werkself can get back on track in the league in our Freiburg vs Leverkusen betting tips.
Freiburg – Leverkusen info:
– Date & Time: 26.02.2023, 15:30 Uhr
– Venue: Europa-Park Stadion, Freiburg
– Competition: Bundesliga, 22nd matchday
– TV broadcast: DAZN
Freiburg Form & Balance Check
C Freiburg are currently playing an incredibly successful season under the guidance of Christian Streich, who took over as head coach at SCF on 29 November 2011. In the Bundesliga, the Breisgauer are currently in fourth place in the table. In the previous season, which Freiburg ultimately finished in sixth place, the SCF had seven points less on their account at the same time.
With only three points behind the league leader in Munich, even the championship is still possible in theory. After Freiburg had picked up only four points in the first four games of the new year, the team’s points tally improved again in recent weeks. The Breisgau team won its last two matches in the Bundesliga. In the previous week, the SCF won 2:0 against Bochum, who are usually so strong at home.
Gregoritsch in his second spring
A goal scorer last weekend was also Michael Gregoritsch. The 28-year-old is returning to long-forgotten strength at Freiburg. The Austrian, who joined from FC Augsburg in the summer, had his most successful period in the 2017/2018 season, when Gregoritsch scored 13 goals in 32 Bundesliga games.
This season, the number 38 of Freiburg seems to want to attack this mark. Michael Gregoritsch has scored eight goals in his first 21 games in the league so far. This makes him the SCF’s second best scorer. Only midfield maestro Vincenzo Grifo scored three more times in the Bundesliga.
Freiburg facts & analysis
– Currently in fourth place in the Bundesliga table.
– Unbeaten at home for 13 competitive games
– In the last 16 of the Europa League against Juventus Turin
Leverkusen form & balance check
Bayer Leverkusen had an extremely weak start to this season. After only one win in the first eight games, coach Gerardo Seoane had to take his hat. Things went much better under his successor Xabi Alonso. The players with the Bavarian cross on their chests won five Bundesliga games in a row.
In the last four league games, however, Leverkusen went completely empty-handed three times. The previous week, Bayer lost 3-2 at home to Mainz 05, but on Thursday Leverkusen made a strong comeback in the Europa League. After the 3-2 home defeat against AS Monaco, the Werkself won 3-2 in the Principality. Bayer 04 finally prevailed in the penalty shootout and thus advanced to the round of 16. There, the Rhinelanders will now face Ferencváros Budapest.
No goal instinct
Although Bayer Leverkusen have been quite convincing in terms of play this season, the team from the Bayerkreuz lacks goals. With only 35 goals in this Bundesliga season, Bayer is only in the midfield of the table. At the same time in the previous season, Leverkusen had not only eleven points but also 19 goals more on their credit side than this season.
The Rhinelanders’ top scorer last season was Patrik Schick, who scored 24 goals. This season, however, the Czech striker has only scored two goals in the league and has missed eight games since November due to injury. However, Schick has since resumed team training and made his comeback for the Werkself against Mainz.
Leverkusen facts & analysis
– Only three points from last four Bundesliga games.
– Currently in tenth place in the league
– In the last 16 of the Europa League against Ferencváros Budapest
Predicted line-up – last update on 25 February 2023
Freiburg will probably line up with a 4-2-3-1 again. Christian Günter will miss the SCF with a yellow suspension. The Breisgau captain previously played 134 consecutive Bundesliga games for Freiburg. In addition, the Breisgauers will be missing Daniel-Kofi Kyereh until the end of the season with a cruciate ligament tear.
Coach Xabi Alonso would probably prefer to field the same eleven in Breisgau that won in Monaco on Thursday. However, Amine Adli will miss the Werkself after his red card against Mainz. Tah and Hincapié are also missing in central defence with a yellow suspension. In addition, Charles Aránguiz is injured.
Freiburg – Leverkusen direct comparison & statistics
47 competitive matches have been played between these two teams so far. Leverkusen have won 21 games, while Freiburg have won 13, with the balance clearly in favour of the Werkself. The last meeting, however, was won by SC Freiburg on matchday 5 of this season with 3:2. Gregoritsch, Ginter and Doan were the scorers for the Breisgauer in September.
– Both teams are separated by 13 points in the league.
– Leverkusen have won only one of their last four games against Freiburg.
– When Freiburg lead 1-0 in home games, they win 88% of matches
– Freiburg have scored in nine of their ten home games in the Bundesliga this season
– Did you know that Leverkusen score 31% of their goals between the 46-60 minute mark?
