Freiburg vs RB Leipzig – News and Probable Lineups

A victory on Saturday at Europa-Park Stadion in the Bundesliga against RB Leipzig would secure Freiburg’s spot in Europe for the next season.

Currently placed seventh with 44 points, Freiburg sits just one point ahead of Eintracht Frankfurt holding the Conference League position, while Leipzig’s 65 points already confirm their third place.

Match overview

After suffering a 3-2 defeat to newly-promoted Hamburgo SV on Sunday, Freiburg is now without a win in three Bundesliga fixtures, having conceded eight goals while scoring only three and losing twice during that span.

The club has experienced defeat in four of their last six matches across all competitions, managing only one win during this time.

Head coach Julian Schuster might be excused if his focus is diverted from league play to his team’s upcoming Europa League final next Wednesday, although their chances of entering the Champions League through this route remain uncertain, considering the strong opposition from Aston Villa.

Achieving any form of European football would mark a successful season for Freiburg, allowing them to compete at the continental level for the fourth consecutive year after previously only qualifying for Europe four times in the last 27 seasons.

Europa-Park Stadion has become a stronghold for Freiburg, with Breisgau-Brasilianer losing only three of their 24 matches at home in the 2025-26 season, winning 16 of those encounters.

Leipzig secured a 2-1 victory against St Pauli on May 9, achieving their sixth win in seven top-flight matches.

Although Die Roten Bullen conceded eight goals during those matches, they were able to score a total of 17 times, including three occasions where they netted three or more goals.

It is somewhat unfortunate for Leipzig that both Borussia Dortmund in second and Bayern Munich at the top have maintained such consistency, as their 68-point total would be the club’s best ever performance in the Bundesliga.

Ole Werner led the team to a 2-0 victory against Freiburg in January, and Leipzig remains unbeaten in 12 matches against the hosts in the Bundesliga, winning eight of those encounters.

Despite a 4-1 defeat to Bayer Leverkusen on May 2, Leipzig had triumphed in four of their previous five away league games.

Team News

Freiburg will have two confirmed absentees as Patrick Osterhage (knee) and Yuito Suzuki (broken collarbone) are out for the weekend.

Maximilian Eggestein and Johan Manzambi are anticipated to feature together in a double pivot, while Lucas Holer is expected to make his 26th start of the season, likely playing behind striker Igor Matanovic.

On the Leipzig side, winger Yan Diomande could make his final appearance as he has drawn interest from both Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain.

Experienced defender Willi Orban will partner Castello Lukeba at the heart of the backline, tasked with supporting goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi.

The midfield trio of Forzan Assan Ouedraogoo, Xaver Schlager, and Christoph Baumgartner has been pivotal to Leipzig’s strong form and should feature alongside one another this weekend.

Freiburg probable starting XI:

Atubolu; Kubler, Ginter, Lienhart, Treu; Eggestein, Manzambi; Beste, Holer, Scherhant; Matanović

RB Leipzig probable starting XI:

Gulacsi; Baku, Orban, Lukeba, Raum; Ouedraogo, Schlager, Baumgartner; Diamond, Romulo, Nusa

Freiburg will depend on the backing of their supporters at Europa-Park Stadion to overcome their visitors on Saturday.

While the home team has shown impressive form at this venue, predicting a victory against Leipzig is challenging due to the visitors’ recent exceptional performances, suggesting a possibility of settling for a draw.