Leipzig is definitely not one of Freiburg’s favorite opponents. The fact that their upcoming opponents have moved into a short training camp before the game in Freiburg does not make the alarm bells ring louder for the sports club.
In October 2019, Freiburg last defeated Leipzig in the sold-out Dreisamstadion, with a 2-1 win thanks to a goal from Nicolas Höfler, assisted by Lucas Höler, and a goal from Nils Petersen, assisted by Vincenzo Grifo. With the exception of Petersen, all the key players could help end the five-and-a-half-year drought in the top match this Saturday evening (6:30 p.m.). In the meantime, there have only been three draws (each 1-1), the last one almost exactly three years ago, and two painful DFB Cup defeats in the 2022 final and a year later in the semi-final.
Schuster: “I don’t understand the term ‘fear opponent’”
SC coach Julian Schuster, however, does not want to be known as a bogey team. “I don’t really understand the term ‘bogey team’, and I certainly didn’t feel anything like fear this week,” he said. Above all, his team wants to take “the self-confidence gained from the past few weeks” with them. After all, the sports club has not been defeated in five games and has not conceded a goal in these games. The fact that goalkeeper Noah Atubolu, who has not conceded a goal in 487 minutes, could break a club record against Leipzig held by former SC keeper Richard Golz, who went 510 minutes without conceding a goal, would be “just a positive side effect – but nothing more” for Schuster.
And the fact that Leipzig are preparing for the game in Breisgau at a short training camp in Salzburg has “less to do with us – and we are preparing as we would for any other opponent,” said the SC coach. Schuster also expects a well-rested opponent, as Leipzig have not had the double burden of playing in the cup as they did last week. In addition, RB still has a quality and form “that many teams would gladly exchange for,” he said. “And if they lead 2-0 against Mainz and win, then no short training camp is necessary. It also shows how close the teams are.”
RB are probably also lacking consistency because they “have opted for a compact squad” in which longer injury absences – like those of Xavi and Xaver Schlager – can have a greater impact. “Then you’re on your edge and that might also mean that one or two things are missing at some moments,” said Schuster.
His team’s aim is to “find the right mix of phases with possession and phases in which you have to suffer and accept that suffering,” emphasized the SC coach. There is a lot to be said for him relying on the recently successful starting eleven, since everyone is fit. Defender Max Rosenfelder (after infection) is also back in team training and an option for the squad.
The conditions are therefore good for the sports club to end their negative streak of twelve competitive games without a win against Leipzig. In the first leg, they thought they were on the right track when Ritsu Doan scored to give them the lead, but they conceded three goals in the second half. “There were a lot of things in the first half, and to some extent in the second as well, that we can build on,” said Schuster, “and Leipzig were even more stable then than they are now.”
