SC Freiburg vs Hoffenheim preview - Illness worry over Hoffenheim coach

Hoffenheim may make their trip to Freiburg on Saturday without coach Markus Gisdol, who has been struck down by the flu.

The coach was unable to attend the pre-match press conference on Thursday due to the virus, which had already caused striker Adam Szalai to miss training.

Szalai is now fit but Gisdol, whose place at the press conference was taken by his assistant Frank Kaspari, is still tucked up in bed.

"He's been told to rest for a day but we hope he will be back," said Kaspari, who has done his homework on Saturday's opponents just in case he has to take charge of matters.

"They are very flexible and a tactically well-schooled team," he added. "(Freiburg coach) Christian Streich doesn't reveal anything and he even changes his team after wins sometimes.

"When a team gets on a roll in the Bundesliga they can beat anybody, and Freiburg have already shown that twice so far in the second half of the season.

"Our recent meetings have been spectacular and I expect Saturday to be another clash between two sides who want three points.

"It might be exciting to the end and hopefully we can snatch it in the end, like against Stuttgart."

Last weekend's last-gasp victory over Stuttgart has revived Hoffenheim's dwindling hopes of snatching a place in Europe next season, although failure to build on that, their first win in 2015, would effectively end any hopes they have.

Freiburg will be keen on ensuring that happens as they seek three points to move away from the relegation zone, but they continue to be beset by injury worries.

"There are not going to be many changes because none are really possible," said Streich.

The good news for him is that forward Admir Mehmedi has resumed training and could make the squad, although the Swiss forward is unlikely to start.

Nils Petersen is still sidelined with a knee injury, on the other hand.