Arminia Bielefeld go into Bundesliga matchday 28 in the relegation zone, but by the end of their game against Freiburg, could be outside the bottom two.
Coach Frank Kramer’s team are having a difficult time in their first season back in the top flight. They are 17th but only due to goal difference. A victory or draw would take them into 16th place, the relegation playoff place.
Freiburg are comfortably placed in 10th, but Christian Streich’s team are on a poor run of form currently. They have won just two of their last six games with four of those finishing in losses.
Three of those last four matches ended in losses including last weekend’s 2-1 defeat to Borussia Monchengladbach.
The Breisgau Brazilians defeated Arminia Bielefeld in the reverse fixture this season. They claimed a 2-0 win thanks to second half goals from Vicenzo Grifo (penalty) and Woo-Yeong Jeong. The victory may not have looked quite as comfortable as the final scoreline indicates.
Arminia Bielefeld kept 53% possession during the fixture but tallied a mere five shots compared to Freiburg’s 16. The match saw a combined 29 fouls and three yellow cards – which were all handed out to Freiburg.
There is belief amongst Bundesliga onlookers that Arminia Bielefeld are improving down the stretch. They will need wins in their final seven games to emerge from the bottom two, however.
Captain Fabian Klos recently returned from injury and his presence will be big down the stretch.
On loan PSV Eindhoven striker Doan has been impressive, bagging four goals with three coming at home. He is in line to start along with is forward Sergio Cordova.
Streich has a huge hole in the Freiburg team going into the game. Talisman Grifo, who scored the opener in the reverse fixture, is ruled out through an illness.
It is the second straight game in which Grifo will be out of action. He has seven goals and six assists in 26 matches.
Lucas Holer and Ermedin Demirovic are unavailable as well to the Freiburg coach. The duo is suspended due to an accumulation of yellow cards.
Despite Freiburg missing Grifo, Holer, and Demirovic, they should sneak past Arminia Bielefeld. The pressure is on the newly promoted team and they could falter this weekend at home. Arminia Bielefeld lost have last back-to-back home matches.
Both losses saw them held scoreless. Freiburg should claim a second win to nil versus Arminia Bielefeld this season on Friday night.
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