7M - Bundesliga Preview: Borussia Dortmund vs Freiburg - prediction, team news, lineups

Borussia Dortmund host Freiburg at Signal Iduna Park on Sunday evening, with the hosts aiming to secure Champions League qualification for next season. Both sides enter the fixture under contrasting pressures, with Dortmund seeking to halt a two-game losing streak and Freiburg looking to rebound from a DFB-Pokal semi-final exit.

Dortmund have endured a challenging run, suffering back-to-back Bundesliga defeats against Bayer Leverkusen and Hoffenheim. These results have narrowed their once-comfortable cushion over third place, intensifying scrutiny on head coach Niko Kovac. The manager has never lost three consecutive league matches during his tenure and will be eager to restore momentum. Sporting director Lars Ricken has called for more attractive football and faster integration of youth talent, adding to the internal expectations.

Freiburg, meanwhile, were eliminated by Stuttgart in extra time during Thursday's cup semi-final, ending their domestic trophy hopes. However, Julian Schuster's side remain competitive on multiple fronts. Currently seventh in the Bundesliga, they hold a one-point advantage over Eintracht Frankfurt and are pushing for a top-seven finish. More significantly, they prepare for a crucial Europa League semi-final first leg against Braga in Portugal this Thursday, which could offer an alternative route to next season's Champions League.

In recent Bundesliga action, Dortmund's form reads W W W W L L, while Freiburg have posted D L W L W W. Across all competitions, Freiburg's record stands at L W W W W W, reflecting their strong cup and European performances.

Defensively, Dortmund have shown vulnerability in recent outings, conceding multiple goals in both losses. Attacking threats like Julian Brandt and Karim Adeyemi remain central to their offensive setup, though Adeyemi is ruled out with a muscular injury. Emre Can (knee) and Felix Nmecha (knee) are also unavailable, while Niklas Sule is expected to start on the bench after a limited return last weekend.

Freiburg will be without midfielder Patrick Osterhage (long-term absence) and defender Max Rosenfelder (hamstring), with Jordy Makengo and Philipp Treu facing late fitness tests. Their attacking options include Lucas Holer and Roland Sallai, supported by creative midfielders like Maximilian Eggestein.

With Dortmund needing just one more win to mathematically secure a top-four finish, and Freiburg potentially prioritizing their Europa League clash, the hosts hold a motivational edge. However, Freiburg's resilience and tactical discipline under Schuster make them dangerous opponents.

Prediction: Borussia Dortmund 2-1 Freiburg