On Saturday afternoon, Bayer Leverkusen hosts Freiburg at the BayArena in the Bundesliga, in what could be a massive final day clash for the visitor's hopes of playing Champions League football next season.
Gerardo Seoane’s team clinched their place in the Champions League for next season by recording a 4-2 win at Hoffenheim last time out. The win was their third straight league victory and meant that fifth-place Freiburg couldn’t catch them heading into this potentially vital final day clash.
The victory at Hoffenheim once again illustrated Bayer’s attacking prowess, as the game saw Die Werkself score at least two goals for a third straight Bundesliga match.
Although Bayer Leverkusen has won five of their last seven home matches in the German top-flight, Seoane’s side has also lost two of their last four league matches at the BayArena.
Their recent home matches in the Bundesliga have been uncharacteristically low-scoring too, with under 2.5 goals scored in three of their last four games.
This is a massive game for Freiburg in the top-four race. The team from the Black Forest must win and hope that RB Leipzig loses at Arminia Bielefeld, as they currently trail Die Roten Bullen by two points.
The odds are stacked against Christian Streich’s team, but the visitors have been consistently upsetting the odds in recent seasons in the German top-flight.
A 4-1 home defeat against sixth-place Union Berlin last time out in the Bundesliga was a potential hammer blow to their dreams of Champions League football.
Freiburg has a decent recent away record in the Bundesliga of late, as they are unbeaten in five league matches on their travels. They have also won their last two meetings with Bayer Leverkusen, so there is still hope in the race to secure that all-important fourth spot.
Forebet predicts that Bayer Leverkusen will record a victory in a high-scoring encounter to end Freiburg’s dreams of playing in European football’s elite competition next season.