Bayer Leverkusen vs. Freiburg: probable teams, match stats and LIVE blog!

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Diaby finished the 2021/22 campaign on a career-best 13 Bundesliga goals, but is currently six competitive matches without a goal, including five this term. Only Patrik Schick outscored Diaby last season, but he too is without a Bundesliga goal in 2022/23, with Leverkusen among the five lowest scorers heading into Matchday 5. After being knocked out of the DFB Cup by lower-league Elversberg and losing three straight Bundesliga matches, the dam broke for Gerardo Seoane's side in a comfortable 3-0 victory at Mainz last weekend. Diaby assisted one of two Jeremie Frimpong goals, but the result was marred by red cards for defenders Piero Hincapie and Mitchel Bakker. Odilon Kossounou and Daley Sinkgraven are expected to deputise as Leverkusen look to repeat their 2-1 home win over Freiburg on the final day of last season. This game may come to soon for new signing Callum Hudson-Odoi.

Freiburg ground out a 1-0 win against Bochum last time out to make it a club record three wins from four Bundesliga matches to start the new campaign. They begin the weekend in third place, only a point behind Union Berlin and leaders Bayern Munich, who meet in the German capital on Saturday afternoon. Christian Streich's side also boast the second meanest defence in the Bundesliga, with just three goals conceded. Kiliann Sildillia, 20, has been a revelation at right-back in the continued absence of Lukas Kübler, while summer signings Ritsu Doan and Michael Gregoritsch have slotted in seamlessly in attack. Streich isn't expected to shuffle his pack, despite Die Breisgauer's fast-approaching UEFA Europa League opener against Qarabag. As before, Yannik Keitel should fill in for Maximilian Eggestein, who missed the Bochum victory because of a fractured hand.

Match stats

Diaby has one goal in four Bundesliga meetings with Freiburg; Schick is yet to score is as many appearances against the south-west club.

Leverkusen have gone 1-0 down inside the opening 15 minutes in three of their four matches this season.

Bayer scored once from 45 efforts on goal across the first three fixtures, but converted three of seven attempts in Mainz.

Vincenzo Grifo is Freiburg's three-goal top scorer so far this season. He has also put three goals past Leverkusen's Lukas Hradecky - his best return against a Bundesliga goalkeeper.

Freiburg have made their joint-best ever start to a Bundesliga season (nine points).

They are the only team to have taken a 1-0 lead in all four of their matches, and have recorded a league-high three clean sheets.

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Probable teams

Leverkusen: Hradecky (c) - Kossounou, Tah, Tapsoba - Frimpong, Andrich, Palacios, Sinkgraven - Demirbay - Diaby, Schick

Out: Adli (collarbone), Bakker (suspended), Bellarabi (knee), Hincapie (suspended), Lunev (thigh), Wirtz (cruciate ligament)

Doubtful: - Hudson-Odoi (match fitness)

Coach: Gerardo Seoane

Freiburg: Flekken - Sildillia, Ginter, Lienhart, Günter (c) - Keitel, Höfler - Sallai, Doan, Grifo - Gregoritsch

Out: Ezekwem (muscular), Höler (metatarsal), Kübler (thigh), Schade (abdominal)

Doubtful: Eggestein (hand)

Coach: Christian Streich

About the clubs Bayer 04 Leverkusen

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