Preview: Freiburg vs. Augsburg - prediction, team news, lineups

Freiburg take on Augsburg in the Bundesliga on Sunday, with the hosts looking to gain a positive result and remain in the top half of the table.

Augsburg, meanwhile, moved eight points clear of the relegation zone after winning last weekend, so can perhaps play with a little more freedom than in recent matches.

Match preview

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Having performed above expectations all season, three defeats in their last four matches has seen Freiburg's progress halted a little.

Christian Streich's side were disappointing once again in their 1-0 defeat to Mainz 05 last weekend, with the relegation contenders enjoying the better chances throughout the game.

Robert Glatzel wildly blazed over the bar from close range before Rafal Gikiewicz superbly denied the forward's point-blank header, but Robin Quaison was on hand from the rebound to secure an 84th-minute winner.

Freiburg now find themselves six points behind sixth-placed Bayer Leverkusen, so their chances of securing an unlikely Europa League qualification position appear to be dwindling.

However, should they up their intensity from recent weeks and find a win against Augsburg, spirits could be lifted once more, with a great season by their own standard still potentially on the cards.

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Currently competing in their tenth consecutive Bundesliga campaign, last weekend's 3-1 win against Borussia Monchengladbach could prove massive in ensuring Heiko Herrlich's side remain in the top flight once again next season.

Augsburg started slowly, with Marcus Thuram winning his fourth penalty of the season for Gladbach, but Lars Stindl uncharacteristically blazed wide from the spot to provide a huge let off for the hosts.

5ft 8in substitute Ruben Vargas punished their profligacy by rising highest at the near post from a corner, before Florian Neuhaus levelled the proceedings with a trademark passed finish into the far corner.

However, Augsburg were not to be denied a crucial victory, with Marco Richter and Andre Hahn clinically scoring in transition to dismantle Marco Rose's stuttering side.

Herrlich will not allow his players to rest easy just yet, but with a seven-point gap to the bottom five sides in the division, a mid-table finish is within reach.

Team News

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Freiburg will be without Lino Tempelmann and Mark Flekken due to injury, but otherwise Streich appears to have a clean bill of health to choose from.

Nils Petersen and Ermedin Demirovic will compete for a spot in the centre of the attack, having both been used from the substitutes' bench during the defeat to Mainz.

Augsburg, meanwhile, could travel to Freiburg without Iago, Alfred Finnbogason, Fredrik Jensen, Tim Civeja, Jan Moravek and Mads Pedersen due to injury.

Vargas will be pushing for a recall to the starting XI after making a decisive impact from the bench against Gladbach last weekend.

Freiburg possible starting lineup:

Muller; Lienhart, Schlotterbeck, Heintz; Schmid, Santamaria, Hofler, Gunter; Holer, Demirovic, Grifo

Augsburg possible starting lineup:

Gikiewicz; Framberger, Gouweleeuw, Uduokhai, Gumny; Strobl, Khedira; Caligiuri, Vargas, Richter; Hahn

We say: Freiburg 1-1 Augsburg

It is tough to see a thriller ensuing in Freiburg on Sunday between two sides who prefer to play on the counter-attack.

A share of the spoils could well be on the cards, then, as was the case earlier in the season in November.