Race for Europe Heats Up in Bundesliga

SC Freiburg vs Eintracht Frankfurt

It’s seventh versus sixth in the Bundesliga this weekend and, in the race for Europe, the hosts could really do with the points.

Freiburg have suffered three successive league defeats, so they trail Eintracht Frankfurt by four points and are clinging onto seventh spot with a clutch of teams on their heels.

Frankfurt, meanwhile, won’t quite have given up hope on sealing a top four finish, even though they are currently eight points off the pace, but certainly will not want to relinquish their place in the top six.

Those two scenarios mean Sunday afternoon could well provide Bundesliga 2024 highlights in the Europa-Park Stadion.

Talking Points

Freiburg’s 3-0 reverse at Borussia Dortmund last weekend was an undoubted blow, straight on the back of defeats at home to Stuttgart and at Werder Bremen.

To add insult to injury, they lost Manuel Gulde in the first half of that game, adding to an injury list that already includes two centre-backs in Mathias Ginter and Philipp Lienhart.

They will certainly want to turnaround their fortunes quickly if they are to stay in the hunt for Europe and that means ending two stats in particular.

Freiburg have conceded a league-high eight times following counterattacks in 2023-24. In addition, the Black Forest club has only picked up points once this season after being behind at half-time (D1, L5).

They were in Europa League action on Thursday night when they held Lens to a goalless draw in France,

The French club dropped into the competition by virtue of their third place finish in Champions League Group B, however were more than matched by the hardworking Germans with Gulde back in the starting line-up.

Frankfurt were also in Euro combat in the less heralded Conference League.

Sasa Kalajdzic has played a significant role in Eintracht Frankfurt's Bundesliga campaign — Eintracht Frankfurt’s Sasa Kalajdzic in action with Mainz 05’s Sepp van den Berg during their Bundesliga match

On loan Wolves striker Sasa Kalajdzic inspired them into a quickfire 2-0 lead at Union St Gilloise, providing the assist for the opening goal for Fares Chaibi, before finishing off a fine counter-attack to make it.

Yet their opponents, the Belgian league leaders, didn’t give up and mounted a comeback to earn a 2-2 draw, despite playing the latter stages with 10 men.

Frankfurt, of course, strengthened in last month’s transfer window, with the loan signings of Donny van de Beek and Kalajdzic. And the former should be back involved this weekend after he was not included in their European squad.

Domestically, Frankfurt were held at home by draw specialists Bochum last weekend when Omar Marmoush gave them the lead before Moritz Broschinski’s deflected strike quickly restored parity.

Let’s not forget Frankfurt may be further off the pace then they’d like to be but have shown they can be a force against anyone on their day, as a 5-1 hammering of German champions Bayern Munich in December showed.

Manager Dino Toppmoeller, son of the innovative Klaus Toppmoeller, is doing a decent job and it must be remembered they were forced to sell their best player last summer.

PSG signed forward Randal Kolo Muani for £64.2 million, plus £12.2m in add-ons, after the France striker refused to train in an attempt to force through the move.

It was a scenario in which the speedy and skilful Muani showed disdain for a club who signed him from Nantes, from which he went onto score 23 times in 46 matches last term and then began this campaign with three goals in four games.

Don’t rule out Freiburg, though. Christian Streich’s team ended the season in an impressive fifth place last season, their highest top-flight finish since 1995, and are due a change in fortune.

BUNDESLIGA