It’s time to check out the matchups that will be played on Sunday as part of the week 2 in German top tier soccer competition. First duel will take place at Red Bull Arena in Leipzig where the host team, RB Leipzig will lock horns with the team from Schwarzwald, SC Freiburg. Both squads weren’t particularly successful in the opening round as the Bulls recorded a loss in Gelsenkirchen and Freiburg recorded a skinny goalless home draw against Frankfurt.
Because of these below-average performances in week 1, this game will be very important for both teams in order to regain momentum and secure a solid position on a league table before the international break that will take place during the next week. On the other side, our job of making your piggy bank a bit larger will be a bit easier because we were finally able to see some of the teams in the official action, giving us the idea the teams’ states of mind. Let’s take a closer look.
RB Leipzig vs. SC Freiburg
Three-Way: 1: RB Leipzig -227; X: +430 Draw ; SC Freiburg +925
Spread -1.5: RB Leipzig +110; SC Freiburg -112
Total +2.5: Over -135; Under +129
RB LEIPZIG
The new season for RB Leipzig didn’t start as the last year’s one as they managed to record a defeat in the opening round as visitors against Schalke 04 team at Veltins-Arena last Saturday, 2:0. A year ago they started the competition with a 2:2 draw in Sinsheim against Hoffenheim, the result that started a 13-games streak of being undefeated and set the tone for the entire season.
Team also found out their opponents in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League this week as they were drawn in the Group G along with the French Champion AS Monaco, Portuguese side Porto and Turkish representatives Besiktas. Opening duel of the competition will be played on September 13th at home against the French.
It will be very interesting to see how will the team that was the member of Zweite (second tier German soccer competition) just two years ago, cope on the highest level of team soccer in Europe. We can say that they were relatively lucky during the draw because there were a couple of much stronger groups when it comes to the names of the foes.
As mentioned above, RB Leipzig suffered a loss while visiting Gelsenkirchen in the first round and their starting eleven in that match were Gulacsi between bars, Upmecano and Orban as central defenders, Klostermann at right-back and Halstenberg at left-back. Laimer and Ilsanker were in charge for the middle of the field while Sablitzer and Keita operated on the wings. Centre-forwards were Werner and Poulsen. During the game, Halstenberg and Keita managed to earn yellow cards. Manager Ralph Hasenhuttl pulled of all three available substitutions and the first victim was Halstenberg who left the game in the 46th minute after being replaced with Emil Forsberg. Summer signing, Portuguese national Bruma entered the game in 76th minute instead of Poulsen along with J. Augustin who checked in instead of K. Laimer.
The RB Leipzig had the imitative as they had a 64% ball possession, recording more shots on goal than the opponent (12-3 Leipzig, 11-5 Schalke) but this advantage was not finalized and the team lost the game after two swift counter-attacks by the home team players. Sabitzer and Forsberg recorded three shots on goal each while passing segment belonged to the defender Wiktor Orban who posted 90.2 percent of correct passes.
Summer additions that got some playing time like Augustine, Laimer and Bruma didn’t show much in their debut for the team but they will have the chance to improve their performances in front of the home crowd on Sunday.
The team from Leipzig has least players on the injury list of all the teams in Bundesliga currently. Only Emil Forsberg who has had some problems with his chest and Bernardo who suffered an ankle injury month ago are listed as doubtful for the upcoming game.
SC FREIBURG
SC Freiburg team, or Brazilians of Breisgau as they are popularly called among their fan base had a solid chance to open the season with a home win against Eintracht Frankfurt on Sunday but they failed in that intention. The team that was surprisingly eliminated in the third qualifying round of the UEFA Europa league two weeks ago by Slovenian representatives Domzale started the last season in a similar manner as they recorded a defeat against Hertha as visitors, 2:1.
This time they attended a peaceful duel with no goals and not many scoring chances. Their last season success has been achieved mostly because the team used to either win or lose the games thus avoiding the big number of draws that can be frustrating when it comes to a number of points earned in the league table. Having this in mind, this season definitely didn’t start on the right track for them.
Head coach Christian Streich chose to play in a 3-4-2-1 formation with three central defenders and two defensive midfielders that were meant to operate like wingers on occasions. Schwolow started between the bars and Kempf, Schuster and Lienhart were assigned with the defending roles. Gunter, Frantz, Hofler, and Stenzel operated in the middle of the field while Habrere and the new addition Niederlechner who signed from Mainz during the offseason were appointed on the positions of attacking midfielders. Alone on the centre-forward position was Kleindienst. Lack of idea and inability to create chances was behind the decision to replace Kleindienst with Petersen in the 58th minute and Niederlechner with Terrazzino in the 78th minute but these moves didn’t make much difference on the field.
Statistically, the home team had the initiative as they recorded a 58 percent ball possession throughout the game but they were much less dangerous in front of the opponent’s goal collecting only eight total shots on goal (Mainz team had 17). J. Schuster showed some skill in the defense as he had five blocked shots at his account while the most dangerous player for the opposing team’s goalie was Kleindienst who recorded two shots on goal. Passing segment belonged to N. Hofler and M. Terrazzino who recorded 90.9 and 90.6 percent of correct passes.
When we put everything together, August didn’t look good for SC Freiburg but this might be only the period of adaptation. Summer acquisitions Florian Niederlechner who came from Mainz and Pascal Stenzel along with Marco Terrazzino didn’t show much in these three official games played for the team while youngster Philipp Leinhart was the only Freiburg’s player that showed some grit and aggressiveness on Sunday, earning a yellow card in the process.
Manuel Gulde (back) and Karim Guede (ankle) should be available in a few weeks while Jonas Meffert’s (foot) status is unknown. Georg Niedermeier (groin) is listed as day to day.
RB Leipzig vs. SC Freiburg – Match Prediction
I’m not going to go Leipzig’s way until they prove that they are the same team from last season with at least one win and that’s why my first pick here will be business as usual, under 2.5 goals in total.
My pick: Total: Under 2.5 goals (+129)
