SC Freiburg vs Bayer Leverkusen Preview

Even with a win here, Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen the title race is out of their hands. If Bayern Munich either beat or draw against RB Leipzig, then they will be crowned as German Champions for the 19th time this century, taking away Leverkusen’s crown in the process.

All Leverkusen can do is focus on winning their game against Freiburg, who themselves are hugely over performing this season.

The home side sit a remarkable 4th, and though the gap to fifth place is only two points, Freiburg have shown on countless occasions this season they can mix it up with the big boys. If they somehow win here, their Champions League ambitions will start to become very real.

As a potential title decider approaches, here is everything you need to know about both sides ahead of kick-off.

Where to Watch

This game will be shown on Sky Sports Football, with kick-off scheduled for 16:30 on Sunday.

Key Statistics

• Freiburg are the lowest scoring side in the top half, netting just 44 goals across the season so far.
• Italian winger Vincenzo Grifo has been key to what attacking output they can boast, setting up 10 goals this season, putting him third in the assist rankings.
• Leverkusen’s playmaker Florian Wirtz sits on the same total, and both players will have their eye on bettering one another in this game.
• However, Leverkusen’s attack has been largely stagnant recently - they have netted just five in their last five.

SC Freiburg Preview

SC Freiburg Predicted Lineup (4-2-3-1): Florian Muller (GK); Jordy Makengo, Philipp Leinhart, Matthias Ginter, Max Rosenfelder; Patrick Osterhage, Maximilian Eggestein; Vincenzo Grifo, Lucas Holer, Ritsu Doan; Michael Gregoritsch.

Freiburg have been the feel good story of the Bundelsiga this season. In finishing 10th last year, many thought it would be much of the same this campaign, the club capable of pulling off big results, but too inconsistent to progress.

How wrong they were: though they haven’t beaten any of Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund or Bayer Leverkusen, they have beaten virtually everyone else, sides such as Stuttgart, Wolfsburg and Monchengladbach, all of whom have been in and around Champions League discussions in recent years.

After their clash with Leverkusen, their remaining fixtures see them face Holstein Kiel and Eintracht Frankfurt. Both are winnable games: Kiel are in the relegation zone, and Frankfurt, despite sitting third, have hit a patch of inconsistency. So if they lose here, their spot in the top four is still reachable. However, they won’t want to take any risks, so they will come out all guns blazing against Leverkusen.

Bayer Leverkusen Preview

Bayer Leverkusen Predicted Lineup (4-4-1-1): Matej Kovar (GK); Alejandro Grimaldo, Edmond Tapsoba, Jonathan Tah, Arthur; Emiliano Buendia, Robert Andrich, Granit Xhaka, Nathan Tella; Florian Wirtz; Patrik Schick.

After their stunning invincible Bundesliga winning campaign last season, Leverkusen were never going to maintain that remarkable level in 2024/25. They have lost just twice this season, but with Bayern playing some irresistible football, it was always going to be a losing battle with the number of draws Alonso’s side have managed.

But the title has only slipped from their fingers in the last few weeks. They have won three in their last five, drawing the other two. Those four points dropped represent the half of the eight point gap to Munich. Had they scrapped their way to wins against St Pauli and Union Berlin, things could have looked quite different.

Unsurprisingly, being knocked out of the DFB Pokal by third division side Arminia Bielefeld knocked their confidence, and a hangover from that surprising defeat was to be expected. However, if they are to have any chance of a shocking title comeback, that hangover has to end now.

SC Freiburg vs Bayer Leverkusen Head to Head

Recent Meetings:

• 21/12/2024: Leverkusen 5-1 Freiburg.
• 17/03/2024: Freiburg 2-3 Leverkusen.
• 29/10/2023: Leverkusen 2-1 Freiburg.
• 26/02/2023: Freiburg 1-1 Leverkusen.
• 03/09/2022: Leverkusen 2-3 Freiburg.

SC Freiburg vs Bayer Leverkusen Betting Tip

In a way, Freiburg actually have more to play for here than Leverkusen. The title race is virtually over, while the top four battle that Freiburg find themselves in the middle of is still wide open. With that taken into consideration, this game will mean more for Freiburg, so I think that they will at least avoid defeat.

SC Freiburg vs Bayer Leverkusen Prediction

SC Freiburg 2-2 Bayer Leverkusen

While Freiburg rarely net more than once, this game holds so much importance that the team will go past the limits they previously thought they had. While Their attack will overperform, Leverkusen’s attack is world class, and they will likely strike back with two of their own.