Dortmund and Freiburg will lock horns at Signal Iduna Park for their first meeting of the 2024/25 Bundesliga campaign
As of the time of writing, Dortmund have garnered 16 points and they sit in fifth position from nine games played. Freiburg have the same 16 points from nine games. Both teams have shipped in a lot of goals during this campaign as well.
Dortmund began the season under the guidance of new manager Nuri Sahin. The former midfielder was not considered to be the best man to get the job after the club parted ways with Edin Terzić. It was a great opportunity for the loyal servant of the club to be in the dugout and help shape the next phase of the club’s future.
On his appointment, Sahin said; It is a great honor for me to be the coach of Borussia Dortmund. I would like to thank all those responsible for the club for the trust they have placed in me. I am very much looking forward to my job at BVB. We will do everything possible from day one with a lot of energy and great passion to have the maximum possible success.”
Sahin just joined their coaching crew earlier in the year and he has been trusted to lead the club in this crucial time. On his managerial debut with the club, Sahin led Dortmund to a 2-0 win over Frankfurt in front of the black and yellow fans. Jamie Gittens scored a second-half brace to secure the first three points of the new era.
A goalless draw at Werder Bremen followed before a 4-2 win over Heidenheim at Signal Iduna Park on Match Day three. Donyell Malen, Karim Adeyemi (brace), and a late Emre Can penalty delivered the second victory under Sahin. The Champions League campaign also started on a bright note for last year’s finalists as they thumped Club Brugge 3-0 away from home.
Back in the Bundesliga, the team suffered their first defeat of the season. It was a disappointing 5-1 bashing at the hands of Stuttgart before they redeemed themselves with a comeback 4-2 win over Bochum at home. Then a 7-1 thrashing of Celtic in the UEFA Champions League got them comfortable on the new format log. As has been the case all season, another league defeat on the road to Union Berlin kicked things off in early October before they returned to winning ways with a 2-1 win over St. Pauli at home.
Dortmund ended the month of October with three consecutive losses in three competitions away from home. Firstly, they let a two-goal lead slip in Madrid before losing 5-2, beaten by Augsburg 2-1 at the WWK Arena and a DFB Pokal ousting at the hands of Wolfsburg. However, November has started on a bright note with wins over RB Leipzig and Sturm Graz (UCL.
As for Freiburg, they share similar results to that of Dortmund. They started the season with a 4-0 bashing of Osnabruck in the DFB Pokal. In the first Bundesliga game of the season, Breisgau-Brasilianer beat Stuttgart 3-1. Lukas Kubler scored either side of Ritsu Doan’s goal to help Freiburg begin the new season on a winning note. In the second game of the season against Bayern Munich, they lost 2-0. From that moment on, the side racked up five wins, two defeats, and one draw in all competitions.
It is the first game after the international break and this should be an interesting fixture for the neutrals.
Dortmund and Freiburg have met 33 times since 2003. Dortmund have won 24 times, Freiburg have won 4 times and the remaining 5 meetings have ended in stalemates.
Match tickets
The epic match at Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund will kick off at 14:30 GMT on Saturday, November 23rd, 2024.
The 81,365-capacity stadium will host this league clash between Dortmund and Freiburg.
Getting Dortmund v Freiburg tickets could take a lot of work given the standard of this game. Hence, you are advised to search ticket reselling sites should they be expectedly sold out on each club’s channels.
Team news
Line-ups
Despite having a number of his starters available, Paulo Fonseca’s side have been largely inconsistent this season. The Milan side have dropped points unnecessarily and are looking to get things back on track. Injured players like Ismael Bennacer and Alessandro Florenzi are not expected to feature in this big game. In terms of the setup, goalkeeper Mike Maignan should start in goal, Fikayo Tomori and Malick and Thiaw will be at the heart of the defence, while the in-form Christian Pulisic will lead the attack alongside the tricky Rafael Leao and Alvaro Morata.
Dortmund XI: Alexander Meyer; Pascal Grob, Emre Can, Nico Schlotterbeck, Ramy Bensebaini; Julian Brandt, Felix Nmecha, Marcel Sabitzer; Jamie Gittens, Serhou Guirassy, Maximilian Beier.
Freiburg have been decent in their performances in the Bundesliga this season. Given what they have done so far, Noah Atubolu is expected to continue in goal, and Lukas Kubler, Christian Gunter, and the like are in the backline. Meanwhile, Nigerian-born Chukwubuike Adamu should lead the lead barring any unforeseen circumstances. In terms of the injured absentees, this game might come too soon for Manuel Gulde, Merlin Rohl, and Daniel-Kofi Kyereh.
Freiburg XI: Noah Atubolu; Lukas Kubler, Mathias Ginter, Philipp Lienhart, Christian Gunter; Maximilian Eggestein, Patrick Osterhage; Vincenzo Grifo, Eren Dinkci, Ritsu Doan; Chukwubuike Adamu.
Prediction
Dortmund has been largely inconsistent this season, and the performance expected from them might be difficult to predict at times. As of the time of writing, they have lost three times in the Bundesliga already, and they do need a performance against one of the teams they are in the European race with.
Freiburg does not have any continental distractions like the black and yellow, so they should be fresh for this trip to Dortmund. However, traveling to Signal Iduna Park has not been easy for them, as they have lost on each of their past six visits.
Judging by history and form, Dortmund should carry the day. By the way, getting Dortmund tickets could be a bit tricky as the year is coming to an end.
Dortmund 2-1 SC Freiburg