SC Freiburg is going into the game with confidence against FSV Mainz 05, who are attracting a lot of attention away from home this season in the Bundesliga.
Freiburg (dpa / lsw) – SC Freiburg’s coach Christian Streich and his players were able to catch their breath again. During the international break, the coach gave his pros three days off before a strenuous program of six English weeks in a row awaits them. This begins for Freiburg on Saturday with the home game in the Bundesliga against 1. FSV Mainz 05 (3.30 p.m. / Sky). “The fans are happy because we have a lot of games and the boys are doing very well – and not just recently, but for two or three years,” said Streich. “It’s nice how the team performs, with what commitment.”
The coach of the Europa League participant also expects this in a duel with the Rheinhessen. Before the break, he offered an unchanged starting XI three times in a week, which could start again against Mainz. The twelve Freiburg internationals who were away all returned more or less fit and healthy. The biggest question mark is whether Hugo Siquet will play (torn knee ligament). In the coming weeks, Streich assumes, there will be changes in the starting line-up. “We’re always looking at the next game and the one after that,” he explained.
First of all, with Mainz, an opponent comes to Freiburg with whom the Breisgauer have always fought close duels and against whom they have not been able to win for four games. “We’re not afraid of any opponent,” said Streich. “They have energy and power and they will demand everything from us in terms of running and tackling – but that’s normal.”
The SC coach also referred to the good away record of guest coach Bo Svensson’s team, who have scored nine of their eleven points in foreign stadiums. “They will come here with the appropriate self-confidence,” guessed Streich. But his team, third in the table, also goes into the game confidently, although the last two games in the Bundesliga ended goalless.
Overall, SC goalkeeper Mark Flekken has not conceded five times in the first seven games. The Dutchman will probably make it difficult for Mainz together with the men in front of him this weekend. In the previous season, the Mainzers only managed one goal in a 1-1 draw.
