Freiburg vs. Hertha Berlin: probable line-ups, match stats and LIVE blog

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Nils Petersen scored for the second successive week as Freiburg threw their hats back into the ring for a top-four finish with a 2-1 win at Augsburg last weekend, and Christian Streich's men will be looking to kick on from that win when they host Hertha. The Black Forest outfit already have 37 points in the bank, which is two more than they had at this stage of the 2011/12 season, three more than 2000/01 and four more than 2016/17 - the last three times they qualified for Europe. Continental football is the objective once again, and a win this weekend would take them even closer to what could still be a first ever qualification for the UEFA Champions League. Streich has no new injury worries, which could mean another start for super-sub Petersen, although Lucas Höler is pushing for a place in the starting XI.

Hertha were humbled 6-1 at home by RB Leipzig last time out, and you have to go back to a 3-2 win over Borussia Dortmund on Matchday 17 for the last time the Old Lady picked up maximum points. With just two points from six games in 2022, Tayfun Korkut's men have slid to within a point of the relegation play-off berth, and they are now just four clear of an automatic relegation position. To make matters worse, there is a big question mark over the fitness of top-scorer Stevan Jovetic, who limped out of last weekend's loss to Leipzig and is labouring with a thigh injury. Myziane Maolida is therefore likely to deputise, although Davie Selke is another option should Korkut prefer to partner Ishak Belfodil with another striker. Meanwhile, Boateng is back in training and could bring his experience to the table, most likely from the bench.

Match stats

Petersen has scored in three of his last four Bundesliga games against Hertha - always as a sub. In October's corresponding fixture, Petersen scored the winner with an overhead kick.

Freiburg's current haul of 37 points after 23 Bundesliga games is the club's second-best tally at this stage of a season.

In 1994/95, when the Baden-Württemberg-based side went on to finish third, they had the equivalent of 43 points after 23 games.

Hertha's return of just two points in the second half of the season - along with their five goals scored and 16 conceded - is the worst of any team in the Rückrunde.

Freiburg are looking to do a Bundesliga double over Hertha for the first time in a single campaign.

Streich has won the most points of all currently active Bundesliga coaches: 398. Bayern Munich's Julian Nagelsmann comes next with 377 points with three clubs.

The 56-year-old tactician recently surpassed legendary club coach, Volker Finke, who picked up the equivalent of 395 points.

Freiburg's 12 headed goals is a new club record for a Bundesliga campaign. Hertha have conceded 11 headed goals, the same amount as in the whole of last season.

Probable line-ups

Freiburg: Flekken - Kübler, Lienhart, N. Schlotterbeck, Günter (c) - Eggestein, Höfler - Sallai, Jeong, Grifo - Petersen

Out: Keitel (broken toe)

Doubtful: -

Coach: Christian Streich

Hertha: Lotka - Pekarik, Gechter, Stark (c), Mittelstädt - Richter, Ascacibar, Darida, Maolida - Serdar - Belfodil

Out: Christensen (thigh), Dardai (ankle), Jarstein (knee), Kempf (suspended), Schwolow (not included)

Doubtful: Boateng (not included), Jovetic (thigh), Klünter (not included), Plattenhardt (not included)

Coach: Tayfun Korkut