Bayern need to “deliver results” ahead of Freiburg game

FC Bayern face another crucial game at the top of the Bundesliga table as they round off Matchday 10 on Sunday at home to second-placed Freiburg (kick-off at 19:30 CEST, coverage with our live text and free web radio on fcbayern.com and in the app). Victory for Julian Nagelsmann’s team would see them leapfrog their opponents and increase the pressure on leaders Union Berlin. Here’s all you need to know about the game against Freiburg.

Check out the photos from Saturday’s final training session:

Situation for Bayern

After last weekend’s 2-2 draw away at Borussia Dortmund, Bayern were able to fill up on confidence again in the Champions League with a 4-2 victory at Viktoria Plzen, which booked FCB’s spot in the knockout stage with two games to spare. Domestically, Bayern sit fourth in the table with 16 points from nine games – two behind second-placed Freiburg and four off leaders Union. A quirk of scheduling means things could get even tighter this weekend. Going into the matchday, it was third-placed Bayern against Freiburg in second kicking off just minutes after leaders Union hosted Dortmund in fourth. Hoffenheim’s win on Friday means FCB and BVB have dropped down a position each. “It’s down to us to put in a top performance and get back to where we want to be as quickly as possible,” Nagelsmann said at his press conference on Saturday.

Watch Nagelsmann’s press conference in full:

Opponents Freiburg

Freiburg head to Munich with real wind in their sails. Having finished sixth last season, Christian Streich’s team look even better this time around and have lost just once all campaign (3-1 at home to Dortmund), sitting proudly in second and also claiming four wins from four in their Europa League group. A comprehensive 4-0 victory at Nantes on Thursday also saw them book their place in the competition’s knockout stage. “They have clear patterns that you see in every game. You can see there’s training behind that, and the collaboration between the players and the coach is good,” Nagelsmann said of Sunday’s opponents.

Here’s some stats and facts on the Freiburg game:

Player update

As well as the injured Bouna Sarr and Lucas Hernandez – who began running again on Friday – and the suspended Kingsley Coman, Bayern will also be without captain Manuel Neuer. “He’s still got problems with his shoulder. I hope he’ll be ready for Augsburg, but he won’t be for tomorrow. It’s annoying, but Sven Ulreich has done well and will be in goal again,” Nagelsmann confirmed on Saturday.

However, it’s expected that Matthijs de Ligt (after a hip issue), Serge Gnabry (after a knee problem), Alphonso Davies (after a bruised head) and Jamal Musiala (after isolating) will all be in the squad after missing the Plzen game. Thomas Müller went off as a precaution on Wednesday but should be available. Opponents Freiburg are without Roland Sallai, Manuel Gulde and Jonathan Schmid in Munich.

What the coaches say

Julian Nagelsmann: “It’s down to us to deliver results, especially on Sunday. It’s a top-of-the-table clash. Freiburg are having a very good season again this year, both domestically and in Europe. It’s an important game for the table but also to improve our points tally and get back to where we want to be as quickly as possible. We’re compelled to win this game.”

Christian Streich (Freiburg head coach): “Bayern will obviously come at us on Sunday, but we’re not afraid. We’re doing well, we’ll defend with everything we’ve got. I hope we see a great game, not just from Bayern but also from us.”