There are a lot more options available to SC Freiburg head coach Christian Streich heading into the Saturday’s game compared to the past few matchdays. None of the Freiburg players who’ve been on international duty for the past two weeks have picked up any injuries.

On Thursday, Streich spoke to the media ahead of the game: “Gregerl hasn’t trained very much. We’re assuming that he’ll be in the squad. Luci Höler didn’t train or play last week and other players filled in for him.” That being said, Höler will be available for Saturday’s game and Nicolas Höfler can also be selected following his suspension.

Freiburg’s head coach said players like Maximilian Philipp and Weißhaupt are “closer to starting” following the international break. “It means we’ve got a lot more players to choose from again. The players who were on international duty are all healthy. We’re in better shape than we were before the Bayern game.”

Bochum like to keep it tight

Saturday’s opponents impressed in their last outing, a 0-0 draw away from home against RB Leipzig. “Bochum defended very well. They adjusted to Leipzig’s style of play. At times there were seven men behind the ball. They had a good tactical set-up,” said Streich. “They didn’t give Leipzig much of a sniff. I imagine that they’ll look to play similarly against us and then hit us on the counter.”

SC have won the last four competitive meetings between the two sides. In last season’s home game, Bochum keeper Manuel Riemann saved Vincenzo Grifo’s penalty and the follow-up effort, but was unable to prevent the Italian from scoring SC’s winner with his third bite at the cherry. Riemann has kept out 47% of penalties taken against him in the league, with the 35-year-old saving two in his last game against Leipzig.

The calm before the storm

After Saturday, SC face the prospect of playing six times in the space of three weeks, which is why Christian Streich views it as an “important match”. “We want to use this home game to show that we can be dominant. We’re happy to have picked up ten points in the league so far and now we want to try and get three more against Bochum,” said SC’s head coach.

2,000 Bochum fans are expected to make the trip to Freiburg. There will be a minute of silence in memory of those who have lost their lives in the Middle East before the game.

Photo: Achim Keller