German Bundesliga - RB Leipzig vs. Freiburg - Preview & Prediction

By Valdis Pans

RB Leipzig Going Strong

At 32 years of age, head coach Julian Nagelsmann has already made history. At 28, he became the youngest manager in Bundesliga history, then helped Hoffenheim to qualify for the Champions League in back-to-back seasons, and now works his magic with RB Leipzig, who have made the quarter-finals of the Champions League this year and trail the top spot of the Bundesliga just by five points, sitting 3rd with 50 points from 25 contests (W14 D8 L3). The team has lost just twice since Oct. 30, going W14 D7 L2 in all competitions.

German striker Timo Werner has been in fine form for Die Roten Bullen this season, notching up a team-high 21 strikes throughout 25 appearances in the Bundesliga, adding seven assists on top. French midfielder Christopher Nkunku (4 goals) leads the side with 12 helpers. Goalie Peter Gulacsi, meanwhile, sits 9th in the league with 68 saves throughout 24 starts. He has posted eight clean sheets and gives up no more than a goal each game on average. RB Leipzig are 3rd in most goals netted (62), having delivered the 2nd highest number of shots so far this year (402). They are 4th best in Bundesliga in overall ball possession (53.2%).

Freiburg Dream Of Top 6

A battle to remain in the Bundesliga for another season has been Freiburg’s main mission every time the team has played in Germany's top league. This year, though, Die Breisgauer dare to dream a bit bigger. The club returns to action, sitting 8th in the league standings with 36 points from 25 outings (W10 D6 L9), trailing the 6th-placed Schalke 04 for a place in Europa League next season by a single point. Freiburg started the season with their best showing in the team’s whole Bundesliga history, losing just one of their first seven matches (W4 D2 L1). Four defeats in the side’s last seven contests (W2 D1 L4), though, is something Freiburg needs to avoid.

Despite going seven straight league games without a single goal, 31-year-old striker Nils Petersen leads Freiburg with eight markers, followed by Gian-Luca Waldschmidt, who has found the back of the net on five occasions. Goalie Alexander Schwolow, meanwhile, ranks 17th in the league in most saves (48), having recorded three clean sheets in 16 appearances. He allows a goal every 69 minutes. Freiburg are 10th in most goals scored (34), 9th in most shots registered (330) and 8th in ball possession (49.1%).

Prediction

RB Leipzig are still in it to win both the Bundesliga and the Champions League this season. They have reached the quarter-finals of the most prestigious club competition in Europe (whenever that will be resumed!) and are sitting just five points off Bayern Munich for the top spot in Germany’s higher division. Since 2018, Die Roten Bullen have struggled against Freiburg, losing three of their past four meetings (W1 L3), including this season’s trip to Schwarzwald-Stadion (2-1). Still, do pick RB Leipzig for a victory in this one! The team has lost the lowest amount of games throughout the whole Bundesliga season thus far (3) and ranks at the top of the league alongside Bayern Munich in least goals conceded (26). There is an undeniable excitement and charisma in the way RB Leipzig are playing, with forward Timo Werner in particularly devastating form (21 goals in 25 games). He has also netted 10 times in his last 11 fixtures against Freiburg.

Best bets:

RB Leipzig to win (-310)

Timo Werner to score anytime (-145)

Timo Werner - the first goalscorer (+285)