Preview: Freiburg vs. Stuttgart - prediction, team news, lineups

Freiburg would move into the Champions League places with a victory, while Stuttgart require all three points to move outside of the bottom three.

Match preview

With only one win in four league games since returning from the World Cup, Freiburg have undoubtedly suffered a setback in terms of their Champions League qualification aspirations in recent weeks.

Their 5-1 thrashing at the hands of Borussia Dortmund last weekend was their second successive heavy away defeat to sides around them in the table, having been beaten 6-0 by Wolfsburg a few weeks ago.

However, they remain only two points behind fourth-placed RB Leipzig prior to their Baden-Wurttemberg derby, and they would move above Leipzig and Eintracht Frankfurt - who both play later in the weekend - should they provide their fans with a victory to remember on Saturday.

Moreover, Christian Streich's side secured a 2-0 win away to second tier outfit SV Sandhausen in the DFB-Pokal on Tuesday, with late strikes from Philipp Lienhart and Nils Petersen guiding their side to the quarter-finals. Having been beaten by Leipzig on penalties in last season's final, Streich will be determined to guide the club to their first ever taste of major silverware.

They have a good chance of doing so in the Europa League, too, having received a bye through to the last-16 of Europe's secondary competition after comfortably topping their group. In the meantime, they will be hoping to put a winning run together in the league in order to move back up the table.

Stuttgart's downwards trajectory is far more concerning than their rivals' mini-slump, with successive defeats to Leipzig and Werder Bremen seeing them fall into the Bundesliga's relegation zone.

Die Schwaben avoided facing a relegation play-off against Hamburger SV due to possessing a superior goal difference to Hertha Berlin last season, but that is the positon they find themselves in at present, two points clear of Hertha in the first automatic relegation spot.

After drawing the first two matches of his second spell at the club, Bruno Labbadia looked set to slowly guide the team away from danger, but their 2-0 defeat at home to Werder on Sunday was a huge setback. Despite dominating the shots and corners count, as well as the share of possession, two second half goals took the game away from them at the Mercedes-Benz Arena.

On a brighter note, Stuttgart also remain in the DFB-Pokal after coming from behind to beat SC Paderborn 2-1 last week, but survival has to take priority for Labbadia, his players and the club as a whole. A win against one of their local rivals on Saturday could be the kick-start to their season which they have been waiting for.

Freiburg Bundesliga form:

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Freiburg form (all competitions):

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Stuttgart Bundesliga form:

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Stuttgart form (all competitions):

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Team News

Freiburg will be without the suspended Kiliann Sildillia after his early dismissal left his side in a world of trouble against Dortmund last weekend, while Yannik Keitel has been ruled out due to a muscle injury.

Streich made five changes for his side's win against Sandhausen in midweek, with Mark Flekken almost certain to return in goal on Saturday. Ritsu Doan and Lucas Holer could also start in attack, with Roland Sallai likely to be eased into things after recovering from a recent muscle strain to feature for 72 minutes during the victory.

Stuttgart, meanwhile, will travel without forwards Serhou Guirassy and Tiago Tomas due to adductor and stomach issues respectively, but Silas should be available to start after missing recent matches with a shin injury.

Likewise, Borna Sosa returned from the substitutes' bench against Werder and should start to provide an invaluable attacking outlet from left-back, while Luca Pfeiffer could be recalled in order to provide a more orthodox central presence in attack in the absence of Guirassy.

Freiburg possible starting lineup:

Flekken; Kubler, Ginter, Lienhart, Gunter; Eggestein, Hofler; Doan, Holer, Grifo; Gregoritsch

Stuttgart possible starting lineup:

Muller; Anton, Mavropanos, Ito, Sosa; Haraguchi, Karazor, Endo; Silas, Pfeiffer, Fuhrich

We say: Freiburg 2-0 Stuttgart

Although Freiburg are yet to find their top form since returning to action after the World Cup, it is surely only a matter of time until Streich's side put together the sort of winning run we have seen so often from them in recent times.

Stuttgart, on the other hand, appear to be in a significant spot of bother having only won three league games so far this season. They are likely to fall to a third successive defeat on Saturday.

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