Borussia Dortmund vs Freiburg

Freiburg’s bid to avoid losing three consecutive Bundesliga games for the first time since November 2021 faces a stern test as they meet Borussia Dortmund at the iconic Signal Iduna Park.

Borussia Dortmund’s flawless start to 2024 hit a brick wall last time out as newly-promoted Heidenheim held them to their first 0-0 draw in the Bundesliga since October 2019. Despite relinquishing a four-match winning league streak, Edin Terzic’s men commence this round in the final Champions League qualification spot, albeit just one point clear of fifth-placed RB Leipzig. With room for error narrowed down, ‘Die Borussen’ must relish the impending home return despite blowing hot and cold across their last three top-flight outings at Signal Iduna Park (W1, D1, L1). That’s because they’ve reigned supreme against Freiburg in this fixture this century, last losing a H2H clash on home turf in 2001! Indeed, they’ve won their last five home duels by a combined score of 17-1.

In the meantime, after a two-match unbeaten start to the new calendar year (W1, D1), visiting Freiburg have lost their last two league games by an identical 3-1 scoreline, dropping out from the European qualification places. But the visitors can still secure continental football for the second season running, as only three points separate them from sixth-placed Eintracht Frankfurt at the start of this round. Freiburg’s below-par win ratio of just 30% in away Bundesliga action this season doesn’t inspire much confidence (W3, D1, L6). Neither does their underwhelming two-game losing league streak on hostile turf, not to mention the fact they’ve conceded an average of 3.4 goals per game on their last five top-flight visits to Signal Iduna Park.