Freiburg started the new season just as they ended the previous one: with enthusiasm. Italian-German Vincenzo Grifo and his team-mates were overwhelming on the first day of the Bundesliga, beating the hapless Augsburg at home. A round 0-4 that attested to the desire to continue to impress of the Christian Streich-led troop, who will take part in the Europa League group stage this year thanks to the unexpected sixth place they achieved in the previous championship.
The wide success obtained in Bavaria last weekend extends the winning streak that officially began in the first round of the German Cup – a competition that three months ago saw Freiburg play the final against Leipzig – and before that in some prestigious friendlies against Rayo Vallecano and Rennes. The new signings, including ex-Augsburg player Gregoritsch – already in goal against his old team – but also Doan and Ginter, respectively taken from Psv Eindhoven and Borussia Monchengladbach, were immediately on the shield. Now a litmus test against a title contender, Borussia Dortmund. In the big match against Bayer Leverkusen there was not the expected festival of goals, but it was enough for captain Reus, who decided the match by putting Edin Terzic’s team ahead at the tenth minute of the first half and giving them their first three points. It was the second clean sheet in a row for Dortmund, who had also kept their goal unbeaten in the German Cup against 1860 Munich.
This was also thanks to their new defender Schlotterbeck, who was bought in the current football market from Freiburg. Talking of the market: in the city of the Black Forest, striker Anthony Modeste, who arrived from Cologne a few days ago to replace Ivorian Sebastien Haller, who was forced to stop due to a testicular tumour, will make his debut from the first day.
Jude Bellingham ©️Ansafoto
The Prediction
Last year Borussia Dortmund stumbled right at home to Freiburg on the second day of the championship, a memory that was certainly not auspicious. This time, too, the conditions seem to be in place for the hosts to avoid defeat: a positive result from them would not be surprising after their excellent debut against Ausgburg. Better, however, to head for goals: both teams should score at least one on each side.
Freiburg-Borussia Dortmund
Freiburg-Borussia Dortmund
FREIBURG (4-2-3-1): Flekken; Sildillia, Ginter, Lienhart, Günter; Eggestein, Höfler; Sallai, Doan, Grifo; Gregoritsch.
BORUSSIA DORTMUND (4-2-3-1): Kobel; Meunier, Hummels, Schlotterbeck, Guerreiro; Dahoud, Bellingham; Malen, Reus, Hazard; Modeste.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 2-2
