The battle to avoid relegation from the Bundesliga continues this weekend when Freiburg host champions Bayern Munich in their penultimate fixtures.
Bayern head into the game with little to play for after seeing their treble bid fall apart, but avoiding defeat could be crucial for the home side as they look to stay out of the bottom three.
Freiburg
© Getty Images
As Freiburg prepare for the final two games of the season, the club's supporters would be forgiven for fearing the worst as they bid to avoid relegation from the top flight of German football.
It has been a tough few weeks for Christian Streich and his players, and it's their form in recent weeks which has been key in dragging them closer to the bottom of the table.
While other clubs have picked up vital victories in the battle to stay in the Bundesliga, Freiburg have failed to win any of their last five league games and they are only ahead of Hannover and SC Paderborn on goal difference.
Automatic relegation or a spot in the relegation playoff is a strong possibility, and a meeting with the champions is probably not what most fans were hoping for at this stage of the season.
Streich will remain hopeful that they can upset a team with little to play for, but the real challenge could be to avoid an emphatic defeat before the vital clash with Hannover on the final day of the campaign.
Recent form: WDLDLD
Recent form (all competitions): LDLDLD
Bayern Munich
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Just a few weeks ago Bayern were threatening to record a famous treble as Pep Guardiola looked to follow in the footsteps of Jupp Heynckes, who delivered three trophies before his arrival in 2013.
In less than a month that dream has been shattered by a penalty shootout defeat to Borussia Dortmund and Champions League disappointment against Barcelona over two legs.
Guardiola watched his team claim a 3-2 victory over the Spanish club in midweek, but the damage had already been done in the first leg and there was no doubt that Bayern were second best over 180 minutes.
Criticism continues to be directed at Guardiola for his tactics in the first leg, and their inability to provide a stern test for Barcelona has taken the shine off what has been a dominant season for long spells.
Bayern cruised to a third successive title, but they have taken their foot off the accelerator since and have lost their last two league games to Bayer Leverkusen and Augsburg.
Guardiola claimed after the second leg with Barcelona that the team could now celebrate their domestic success, and he will be keen to collect six points against Freiburg and Mainz 05 over the next couple of weeks.
Recent form: WWWWLL
Recent form (all competitions): WLLLLW
Team News
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Bayern's injury crisis has dominated the headlines in recent weeks, but they could be boosted by the return of David Alaba before the end of the season, although the Austrian may be forced to settle for an appearance on the final day.
Franck Ribery is still battling his own injury problems and is unlikely to be available, but Guardiola is still expected to make changes to the side which won the second leg against Barcelona.
Mario Gotze should be handed a start after struggling to earn playing time in recent weeks, while Dante, Javi Martinez and Mitchell Weiser are also pushing for recalls.
Freiburg could welcome back Nils Petersen after he was forced to settle for a spot on the bench last weekend, but Streich is unlikely to make many other changes, which means that Vladimir Darida and Felix Klaus should start again.
Freiburg possible starting lineup:
Burki, Krmas, Mujdza, Mitrovic, Gunter, Hofler, Schmid, Darida, Klaus, Petersen, Mehmedi
Bayern Munich possible starting lineup:
Neuer, Dante, Boateng, Bernat, Weiser, Lahm, Martinez, Thiago, Gotze, Muller, Lewandowski
Head To Head
Bayern are surely the last team Freiburg supporters wanted to face as they search for the points required to stay in the Bundesliga. It has been 20 years since they beat the Bavarian club in any competition.
Freiburg have avoided defeat only twice in the previous 19 meetings between the two sides, and they have managed only one goal in the last seven matches.
Arjen Robben and Muller scored the goals back in December as Bayern claimed a 2-0 victory in the reverse fixture.
We say: Freiburg 0-2 Bayern Munich
Bayern no longer have the need to produce their best, but after suffering disappointment in recent weeks Guardiola will be keen to give his loyal supporters something to celebrate in the final two games. Freiburg are desperate for points but they could be on the end of a Bayern backlash on Saturday.
Callum Mulvihill
