Freiburg vs Bayer Leverkusen Prediction & Betting Tips

Bayer Leverkusen make the trip to Freiburg as they try to strengthen their grip at the top of the Bundesliga table.

Date: 17/03/24

Kick-off time: 14:30

Venue: Stade-Europa Park

Xabi Alonso’s men are ten points clear at the top of the Bundesliga with nine games to go following their 2-0 victory over Wolfsburg at the weekend. Their nearest challengers, Bayern Munich, also won, but have endured some inconsistent form which has allowed Leverkusen to pull away. Victory at Freiburg would put them in an extremely commanding position to clinch their first-ever league title, as they head into the final stretch of the season. Remarkably, they are still unbeaten in all competitions, and will be hoping to continue this impressive run.

Freiburg, in contrast, are fighting an uphill battle to play in any European competition next season. They are currently in the Europa League, but their participation after this year is in doubt. They sit in eighth but are seven points behind Eintracht Frankfurt in sixth, which is the final European place. With five points from a possible 12 in their last four, they have lost a bit of ground, but any points this weekend could give them some much-needed confidence and momentum heading into the next few games.

There has not been anything to split the pair in their last five league meetings, with them both winning two games each. The reverse fixture earlier this season unsurprisingly ended in Leverkusen’s favour, as they won 2-1. Florian Wirtz put the hosts ahead, before Jonas Hoffman doubled the lead. Manuel Gulde pulled one back but they could not mount a comeback.

Freiburg

Philipp Lienhart has a groin injury that kept him out of the last game, so he should be considered a doubt for this weekend. Kenneth Schmidt has an abdominal injury that could see him absent until the end of this month.

Bayer Leverkusen

Striker Victor Boniface has been out of action for three months with an adductor injury but is progressing well with a possible return not ruled out for next month. Young right-back Arthur is still recovering from a long-term thigh injury. Jeremie Frimpong is eligible to return from suspension following an accumulation of yellow cards.

Freiburg

In their least five games, Freiburg have won three, drawn one and lost one. They are in a good run of form, beginning with a 3-2 win in the Europa League against French side Lens. This result meant they advanced to the last 16 of the competition on aggregate (3-2). However, they did so in dramatic fashion, coming back from 2-0 down to progress. Down by two at half-time, they pulled one back in the 67th minute as they attempted to make a comeback. As they looked to be heading out, Roland Sallai scored his second to take the tie to extra-time. Michael Gregoritsch scored in the first period of extra-time to send them through.

They were unable to take this winning momentum into the next game as they lost 2-1 at Augsburg. A penalty from Vincenzo Grifo put them up early, but Augsburg turned it around late in the second half to take all three points. Though they dropped points again in their next game, it was a good point against a top team in Bayern Munich. It was a back-and-forth game with both teams taking the lead and squandering it. Freiburg did so first, after Christian Gunter broke the deadlock. Jamal Musiala put Bayern in front with 15 minutes to go, but Lucas Holer rescued a big point.

A return to European action followed, as they took on West Ham in the Europa League Round of 16 first leg. It was a very even game, but Gregoritsch’s 81st-minute goal means they will go to London in midweek with a slender advantage. Their most recent game was a 2-1 victory at Bochum. Max Eggestein and Gregoritsch scored either side of an Ivan Ordets equaliser.

Bayer Leverkusen

In their last five games, Bayer Leverkusen have won four and drawn one. Leverkusen’s league form has been exemplary, as they have yet to lose a game. The most recent was a victory over Wolfsburg at home, as Nathan Tella scored a first-half goal before Florian Wirtz netted late on. They were given a helping hand by the visitors after they were reduced to ten men just before the half-hour mark, but they made sure to take advantage of their extra man.

A Europa League first-leg fixture against Qarabag saw them come dangerously close to losing their unbeaten record this season. The Azerbaijani side held a two-goal lead at half-time and held this advantage until there was 20 minutes left. Wirtz pulled one back, before they scored an equaliser in the 92nd minute through Patrik Schick. They will return home in midweek to try and advance to the quarter-finals of the competition.

This followed a league fixture away at Koln. The hosts had a man sent off after just 14 minutes. Jeremie Frimpong broke the deadlock shortly before half-time. Alex Grimaldo doubled the lead later in the game. A third-minute Granit Xhaka strike gave Leverkusen the lead against Mainz but this was quickly cancelled out four minutes later by Dominik Kohr. Robert Andrich’s second-half goal proved decisive. They repeated this scoreline the week prior at Heidenheim. Frimpong struck on the stroke of half-time, and Amine Adil added another with less than 10 minutes to go. Heidenheim pulled one back but it was too late to stage a comeback.

Bayer Leverkusen are in excellent form and are looking unstoppable as their unbeaten streak goes on. We expect this to continue, though Freiburg will get on the scoresheet – Freiburg 1-2 Bayer Leverkusen

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Freiburg vs Bayer Leverkusen will be available to watch on Sky Sports Football YouTube and the Sky Sports app.

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