Schalke vs Freiburg
Germany – Bundesliga
Date: Saturday, 21 December 2019
Kick-off at 14:30 UK / 15:30 CET
Venue: Veltins Arena (Gelsenkirchen).
Schalke 04
Fifth Schalke 04 have lost one of their eight Bundesliga matches and are unbeaten in seven at home, winning the last two.
The first choice goalkeeper Nubel serving the second game of his ban so that Schubert, who - apart from his mistake to equalize - impressed at Wolfsburg in midweek, will represent again.
Stambouli has been ruled out again and fellow central defender Nastasic remains a doubt, so Oczipka may be required to fill out along Kabak again.
Predicted line-up (4-1-2-1-2): Schubert; Kenny, Kabak, Oczipka, Juan Miranda; Mascarell; Caligiuri, Serdar; Harit; Burgstaller, Raman
Not available: Stambouli (Injured), Uth (Hurt), Sane (Hurt), Schopf (Hurt), McKennie (Hurt), Nubel (Suspended)
Doubtful: Nastasic (Injured), Kutucu (Injured)
FREIBURG
Freiburg is on track for a well-earned draw at home to Bayern Munich on Wednesday but two late goals consigned them to their third defeat in four games.
Coach Streich has some injury concerns after Wednesday's game with Frantz, Haberer and holer all pick up injuries which make them doubtful.
There is also still a question mark over the right back Schmid and with seven players definitely not available, Streich limited choices.
Predicted line-up (3-4-3): Flekken; Gulde, Koch, Heintz; Frantz, Hofler, Abrashi, Gunter; Holer, Petersen, Grifo
Not available: Schwolow (Injured), Kubler (Hurt), Salai (Hurt), Tempelmann (Hurt), Waldschmidt (Hurt), Lienhart (Hurt), Ravel (Injured)
Doubtful: Gondorf (Disease), Schmid (Hurt), holer (Hurt), Haberer (Hurt), Frantz (Injured)
Match Statistics
The next best scorer is midfielder Schalke after Harit Suat Serdar (five), followed by Raman (four) and Kabak.
Daniel Caligiuri is the product of the academy of Freiburg. He won the DFB Cup U19 under Streich before registering 11 goals and 13 assists in 93 Bundesliga games for the club. The Italian international has four goals in nine appearances against his former team.
Schalke have won only two of eight league games against Freiburg (D3, L3), both coming 2017/18.
At home in this fixture they are unbeaten in five (W2, D3), but it has attracted three of the big four.
Petersen is Freiburg's top scorer this campaign with six goals Bundesliga, took him to one of the club's all-time leading scorer Joachim Loew (83 goals). However, he has only one goal in 10 Bundesliga match against Schalke, coming in his first match for his former employers Bayern.
Jonathan Schmid has scored eight direct free kick in the Bundesliga career, more than any other player in the league today. He also scored in Freiburg who just won at Schalke under Streich in 2012.
Freiburg have beaten 14 times in the Bundesliga Schalke, which was more than they had any other club. They also came from 1-0 to win three times, which is another club best.
Freiburg vs Schalke Predictions
Schalke failed to take back to back wins on the road last week after Wolfsburg back from behind to hold them 1-1. However, the hosts have stumbled only once in their last five Bundesliga clash and currently live in five also.
Meanwhile, Freiburg is going through rough at this time. The visitors were in two successive matches, the most recent of which saw them concede defeat to Bayern Munich with a 3-1 scoreline. It was also, at home.
It is also worth mentioning that the guests have only one victory to boast of their previous five matches in the top flight, and have accumulated no more than four points from a possible fifteen.
To pile on even more suffering, Freiburg has struggled to taste success in their latest event. Disappointingly, they have not come away with a win on the road since the end of September.
In sharp contrast, Schalke are unbeaten in their last six on the trot clash at Veltins Arena. Also, the host has not been on the losing end in their last five meetings with this enemy here either.
Thus, the possibility of coming out on top Freiburg certainly looks bleak.
Furthermore, Schalke have been consistent in getting their names on the scoresheet at home. They had found the back of the net six times in three of their previous matchups here alone.
Meanwhile, thirteen of twenty-five goals for Freiburg so far comes from their clashes on the street.
With both teams known to pack a punch in the final third, relying on a goal to be in abundance come Saturday.
Freiburg vs Schalke Betting tips
Schalke win @ 1.70 (7/10)
Over 2.5 goals @ 1.70 (7/10).
