Hamburger SV vs. Freiburg preview: Europa League finalists return to Bundesliga action

Predicted lineup: Fernandes; Capaldo, Vušković, Torunarigha; Jatta, Remberg, Vieira, Lokonga, Grønbæk; Königsdörffer, Stange

Freiburg

Freiburg will still be in a celebratory mood after reaching their first European final. Julian Schuster’s side overturned a narrow first-leg deficit in their Europa League semi-final tie against 10-man Braga on Thursday. The Breisgau-Brasilianer took full advantage of Mario Dorgeles early red card, with Lukas Kübler scoring either side of a Johan Manzambi effort in a 3-1 victory at the Europa-Park Stadion. The 3-2 aggregate success has set up a final showdown against Premier League Aston Villa in Istanbul on May 20, when they will have the chance to secure their first major trophy.

Winning the Europa League would also secure a spot in next season’s Champions League, but while that may be the dream, Freiburg still need to make sure they guarantee at least some form of European football via the Bundesliga. As it stands, Julian Schuster’s side are sitting in seventh place and on course for Conference League qualification after picking up 44 points from 32 games. However, they are only a point clear of Eintracht Frankfurt, who lost to Borussia Dortmund on Friday, and three points ahead of ninth-placed Augsburg.

The Breisgau-Brasilianer should fancy their chances of coming out on top on Sunday, having won each of their last three competitive meetings with Hamburg, including a 2-1 win in January’s reverse fixture. That said, they have been hit or miss in recent Bundesliga road trips, with their last four away league games producing two wins and four defeats. 

Team News

Yuito Suzuki will miss the remainder of the season after sustaining an injury in last Sunday’s draw with Wolfsburg. The visitors are also without Patrick Osterhage, who is sidelined with a knee problem.

Predicted lineup: Atubolu; Kübler, Ginter, Lienhart, Günter; Eggestein, Manzambi; Scherhant, Höler, Grifo; Matanović