Preview: Freiburg vs. Union Berlin - prediction, team news, lineups

Freiburg host Union Berlin in the Bundesliga on Saturday, with both sides looking to improve on their bore draws last weekend as they attempt to cement their places in the top half of the table.

The two clubs were held to goalless draws by Werder Bremen and Schalke 04 respectively, so each set of fans will be hoping to witness some goals this weekend.

Match preview

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Having beaten Borussia Dortmund in a pulsating encounter the previous weekend, Christian Streich may not have minded a quieter affair as proved to be the case in their 0-0 draw at Werder Bremen.

However, it was a match which would have tested even the purest of football fan's endurance skills, with very few chances created of any real note.

Milos Veljkovic had perhaps the best opportunity of the game towards the end of the first half, but the Bremen defender saw his header superbly saved by Florian Muller at point-blank range.

Perhaps understandably given their position in the table, the hosts appeared to increasingly settle for a point as the match progressed, with Freiburg looking the marginally more likely side to find a winner. Indeed, Nils Petersen and Jonathan Schmid both failed to make proper connection with the ball inside the Bremen box, but Streich will certainly be hoping for more attacking ambition from his side this weekend.

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Like their forthcoming opponents, Union Berlin were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw by a side below them in the table in the shape of Schalke.

In fairness, Schalke have improved under the management of Christian Gross, with the Bundesliga's bottom-placed side dominating possession throughout the game.

It was Union Berlin who created by far the better opportunities, though, with Liverpool loanee Taiwo Awoniyi spurning two golden opportunities either side of the break having been played through on goal on both occasions.

On the flipside, former Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius was not forced into making a save on his debut for Urs Fischer 's side until Nassim Boujellab 's 89th-minute effort, with both sides perhaps content to take the point and move on in the end.

Freiburg Bundesliga form: LDWLWD

Union Berlin Bundesliga form: WLLDLD

Team News

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Freiburg are likely to be without Roland Sallai, Dominique Heintz, Keven Schlotterbeck, Kwon Chang-hoon and Mark Flekken due to various injuries, with the quintet set to return to first-team action by the end of the month.

Petersen and Lucas Holer will be hoping to earn a recall to the starting XI in place of Ermedin Demirovic, who has failed to score or assist in his last three starts.

Union Berlin, meanwhile, will welcome Nico Schlotterbeck back to the travelling squad after the defender served his one-match suspension having been dismissed in the defeat to Mainz 05.

Andreas Luthe should also return in goal in place of Karius after missing the draw with Schalke due to personal reasons, while talismanic presence Max Kruse could be fit enough to make the substitutes' bench after recovering from his torn muscle sustained in December.

However, the trip to Freiburg is likely to come too soon for the injured trio of Christopher Lenz, Sheraldo Becker and Anthony Ujah.

Freiburg possible starting lineup:

Muller; Lienhart, Gulde, Heintz; Schmid, Santamaria, Hofler, Gunter; Jeong, Grifo; Holer

Union Berlin possible starting lineup:

Luthe; Friedrich, Knoche, Hubner; Trimmel, Promel, Andrich, Ingvartsen, Griesselmann; Awoniyi, Pohjanpalo

We say: Freiburg 1-0 Union Berlin

The return of Kruse could have a major uplift on Union Berlin's stuttering form of late, but it is likely to be too soon for the former Germany international to have a telling impact here.

Freiburg look to have a little more creativity within their ranks at present and, as such, may edge what is likely to be a tight game between two over-achieving sides.

Top tip

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