FREIBURG – UNION BERLIN | Sunday 5:30pm
An unusual top-flight clash between the ambitious Freiburg and the surprising Union Berlin sends the Bundesliga ‘on holiday’. The German top league, in fact, will reopen at the end of January and will be the last of Europe’s top-five domestic tournaments to do so. Up for grabs, then, is the chance to spend more than two months in lonely second place behind Bayern Munich, which has in the meantime already attempted a first breakaway. Both, in fact, are paired on 27 points, just one point behind Leipzig, who won yesterday over Werder Bremen. Although both Christian Streich’s and Urs Fischer’s men are currently in a very prestigious position, given the history and palmares of the two clubs, the feeling is that they are starting to suffer from ‘vertigo’.
The differences were quite clear in last Tuesday’s match between Leipzig – currently the most in-form team along with the Bavarians – and Freiburg, a match won by the Roten Bullen 3-1 and which put an end to Grifo and his teammates’ long unbeaten run of six matches. It was also a disappointing midweek for Union Berlin, who evidently felt the blow of the heavy defeat at home to Bayer Leverkusen (5-0). Having lost their top spot in the league table, the Capitols were forced into a draw (2-2) by Augsburg, who are fighting for relegation. Fischer will have to do without his captain Khedira in the Europa-Park Stadion match, disqualified for a number of cautions: in his place is former Sampdorian Morten Thorsby.
Seguin (left) of Union Berlin
The Prediction
Both are having an excellent championship, going beyond expectations. And in all likelihood they will create a balanced match. Freiburg, however, seem to have more petrol than Union Berlin and should be able to avoid defeat, ending a run of two consecutive home defeats against the Capitols.
Freiburg v Union Berlin likely line-up
- FREIBURG (4-2-3-1): Flekken; Kübler, Ginter, Lienhart, Günter; Eggestein, Höfler; Doan, Jeong, Grifo; Gregoritsch.
- UNION BERLIN (3-5-2): Grill; Baumgartl, Knoche, Leite; Trimmel, Thorsby, Seguin, Haberer, Gießelmann; Becker, Behrens.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-0
