Freiburg welcome Hoffenheim to the Europa-Park Stadion on Saturday afternoon for a six-pointer in the battle for the Bundesliga Champions League spots.

The hosts sit fourth, two points but just one place above their upcoming opponents, and both sides come into the match on the back of a victory.

Match preview

© Reuters

Freiburg's victory was no ordinary win, as they thrashed Borussia Monchengladbach 6-0 on their own turf.

With Die Breisgauer having failed to win a Bundesliga game in Monchengladbach since 1995 and the hosts previously unbeaten at home this season, what occurred at Borussia-Park was all the more incredible.

The visitors grabbed all six of their goals in the space of 38 incredible first-half minutes. Maximilian Eggestein kickstarted the scoring in only the second minute, before Kevin Schade doubled the lead three minutes later, and further goals from Philipp Lienhart, Nicolas Hofler, Lucas Holer and Nico Schlotterbeck saw the hosts trudging down the tunnel bewildered at half time.

Whilst they were able to close the floodgates in the second half, Freiburg's achievement remains incredible - it is very rare that more than half of a team gets on the scoresheet in the first half of a game.

It was an emphatic way for Christian Streich's side to put an end to three consecutive Bundesliga losses, and they will now look to draw momentum from the stunning result and rediscover the form they showed early in the season.

© Reuters

Hoffenheim's game only featured one goal fewer, but they were far more evenly spread, with the end result a fairly dramatic 3-2.

Visitors Eintracht Frankfurt took the lead but Dennis Geiger and Georginio Rutter turned the game around before half time and, with the sides sharing a goal a piece in the second half, the hosts were able to hold onto their lead for a valuable three points.

Frankfurt were in good form heading into the match, which will give Sebastian Hoeness some hope of being able to withstand the huge boost in confidence his next opponents picked up last weekend.

After missing out on European football entirely this season due to a disappointing 11th-placed finish last campaign, Hoeness will be looking for his side to continue their fine recent form in order to increase their chances of obtaining one of the spots come May.

Four wins in their last five overall, as well as five straight league victories at home, have transformed hopes and expectations after a disappointing return of one win from their opening five matches this season, and they must now attempt to improve what is an iffy record on the road.

Team News

© Reuters

After their incredible 6-0 win, Streich is surely unlikely to make too many changes to his starting XI for Saturday's game.

Centre-back Lienhart is still level with Holer as Freiburg's leading goalscorer after both men got their fourth of the season against the Foals.

With goals coming from all over the pitch, and excellent service coming from Vincenzo Grifo and Christian Gunter, a likely unchanged team will be full of confidence.

Florian Grillitsch could return to the Hoffenheim back three in place of Chris Richards, having missed the previous game with a cold.

The Austrian could also be utilised in midfield, however, if Geiger does not shake the muscle problem that forced him off during the Frankfurt game.

Freiburg possible starting lineup:
Flekken; Kubler, Lienhart, N. Schlotterbeck, Gunter; Schade, Eggestein, Hofler, Grifo; Holer, Demirovic

Hoffenheim possible starting lineup:
Baumann; Posch, Grillitsch, Vogt; Akpoguma, Rudy, Samassekou, Raum; Bebou, Dabbur, Rutter

We say: Freiburg 2-2 Hoffenheim

This game could go either way with both sides riding the crest of a wave at the moment. We foresee an action-packed, exciting game with plenty of goalmouth action and are going to back a high-scoring draw - with neither team having seen a stalemate in their last six games, they are certainly overdue one.

Previews by email