The German Bundesliga gets set to provide us with a climactic conclusion to another exhilarating season, as the mesmerizing drama continues, with round 31 match-ups on offer this weekend, as the hosts SC Freiburg welcomes FC Schalke 04 to the Dreisamstadion, with kick off commencing at (17:30 CEST/16:30 GMT). These two sides square off this Sunday (May 7th).
The last time these two top flight teams locked horns in the German Bundesliga, the spoils of war were equally distributed, in what was a rather non-stimulating stalemate, at the Veltins-Arena (1:1).
This time around, the stakes have never been higher, and both of these sides find themselves within touching distance of a Europa league qualification spot, and neck and neck on points as we enter the final chapters of this pulse-racing campaign. If Schalke 04 can upset the home team, and take away all three points this Sunday, they could potentially climb up three places, and go above Sunday’s opponents on goal difference. One thing’s for sure, with so much on the line, this one promises to be a fascinating, football feast.
SC FREIBURG vs FC SCHALKE 04
3-Way: 1: SC Freiburg +250; X: +272 Draw; FC Schalke 04 +129
Spread +0.5: SC Freiburg -125 ; FC Schalke 04 +119
Total +2.5 : Over -127; Under +124
SC FREIBURG
The SC Freiburg is enjoying a dream season as the club earned promotion in their previous league campaign, and has acclimatized to the frenetic, unrelenting pace of top flight German Bundesliga football, in an impressive manner.
The clubs manager Christian Streich has performed miraculous performances with his team this season, and the newly promoted team find themselves ranked 7th in the German Bundesliga, having earned their place amongst the German league’s big guns, by rightfully stamping their territory inside the top ten.
Whats even more remarkable, is that SC Freiburg is within just two points of Europa League qualification, and a win for the home side this Sunday, would see them leapfrog their league rivals, SV Werder Bremen, and the Hertha BSC Berlin, to go fifth, which would be an astonishing achievement for a newborn side, that was only introduced to the big league, this season.
At home, the SC Freiburg boasts a decent record. The club has claimed victory in nine of their fifteen matches played on home soil. Furthermore, the Brazilians of Breisgau have only lost on five occasions as the hosts this season. However, the side lost their last German Bundesliga fixture, away to the bottom side SV Darmstadt 98 (0:3), in what was an uncharacteristic display by the travelling side. On the other hand, the club is currently experiencing a winning streak of two consecutive matches at the Schwarzwald-Stadion, resulting in wins against the Bayer Leverkusen (2:1), and FSV Mainz 05 (1:0).
Sunday’s hosts have only triumphed in two of their last six meetings with the Royal Blues, and the side will be hoping that their impressive form in the German Bundesliga continues this season, when they entertain the Schalke 04 this Sunday, in what promises to be a memorable encounter. The SC Freiburg, will be well aware of the fact, that the Schalke 04 have defeated them more times as the traveling side, than as the hosts of this fixture, and they will need to be alert to the danger, and fully on their guard this weekend.
The Austrian Forward Florian Niederlechner, is currently the clubs joint top goalscorer, the twenty eight year old striker, has found the net nine times, alongside his fellow comrade, Nils Petersen, who also has a total of nine goals in the German Bundesliga, this season, whilst the midfield magician, Maximilian Philipp comes in at a close second, with a grand total of eight goals to his name, so far throughout this campaign. The in form Italian, Vincenzo Grifo, is also worthy of a mention, and has accumulated six goals for this season, from the midfield.
The clubs midfield talisman, Vincenzo Grifo, will miss this Sunday’s clash due to a Knee injury, whilst their lethal striker Florian Niederlechner has rediscovered his match fitness, and should make it back into the FC Freiburg’s starting eleven, when the side go head to head against their league rivals, the Schalke 04, in what promises to be a show-stopping spectacle.
FC SCHALKE 04
FC Schalke 04 will be brimming with confidence, after the club recently dispatched their league rivals the Bayer Leverkusen in emphatic style (4:0), and the side will hope to put on another dazzling performance away from home. As it stands, the club is currently just three points behind Sunday’s challengers, and if the side claim victory on Sunday, they will go to within just two points of the Hertha BSC Berlin, and Europa League qualification.
The club is currently ranked 1oth in the German Bundesliga this season, and is enjoying a decent spell of late, that has seen the manager Markus Weinzierl and his side, remain unbeaten in their last six league encounters on home soil. Despite the clubs recent away triumph, the Royal Blues maintain a disappointing away record this season, that has seen the side win only three, of their fifteen matches, whilst the club has tasted defeat on eight occasions, and managed a meagre sum of three clean sheets on home soil so far in this Bundesliga season.
The FC Schalke 04 could potentially climb up the league table, and usurp the 7th place SC Freiburg, if they can take away all three points on their visit to the Dreisamstadion, this Sunday. The club will be looking for their in form striker, Guido Burgstaller, to leave his mark on the game, and get on the scoresheet, after the forward scored twice in the clubs recent away visit to the Bayer Leverkusen, last weekend.
The striker Guido Burgstaller has really found his shooting boots this season, and has scored eight goals domestically, with a total of eleven goals in all competitions. The Austrian midfielder, Alessandro Schopf, has enjoyed a decent campaign, and has netted six times from the centre of the park, whilst the Algerian, and midfield general Nabil Bentaleb, has found the net on five occasions in the Bundesliga this season, his latest goal came against the Borussia Monchengladbach, in the clubs devastating away defeat, back in March (2:4).
The FC Schalke 04’s defensive powerhouse and Brazilian International Naldo, will miss Sunday’s contest, due to a Groin strain, whilst the Swiss striker Breel Embolo has sustained an Ankle injury, and will not return to match fitness, in time for Sunday’s hotly anticipated showdown, Fellow teammates Rahman Baba, Choupo-Moting, and Alessandro Schopf have all sustained Knee afflictions, and that completes the list of casualties, ahead of this Sunday’s scintillating slobberknocker.
SC FREIBURG vs. FC SCHALKE 04 MATCH PREDICTION
The FC Schalke 04 notched up their biggest victory away from home all season against the Bayer Leverkusen last weekend, but the club has been unable to string together two successive wins away from home all season.
The SC Freiburg will draw confidence from the fact that the club has beaten the FC Schalke 04 more times than any other Bundesliga team, with a total of twelve victories.
Having said that, a win for the Schalke 04 would see the side go ahead of the SC Freiburg, so there is no lack of motivation for the manager Markus Weinzierl and his side, as they prepare to take on a high-flying, newly promoted team, that is operating without fear, and playing with nothing to lose. This match promises to be a blockbuster battle, and I think the SC Freiburg will just about have what it takes, to clinch a narrow victory, this Sunday. However, I will go with both teams to score and also take the over.
MY PICK: Both teams to score YES (-145)
TOTAL: Over 2.5 goals (-127)
