FC Bayern at Freiburg: Determined to defend top spot

As the newly crowned league leaders, FC Bayern are away to SC Freiburg on Sunday (17:30 CEST). Their opponents from the Breisgau region had held the top spot in the Bundesliga just last weekend, but then continued what's been a curious run: so far this season, the team who have gone into each matchday as league leaders have never managed to hold on to that position. The Munich side are now looking to break this ‘league leaders curse’ in Freiburg – and there are a number of strong arguments that point to why they'll be able to do so.

FC Bayern have lost just one of their last 49 Bundesliga matches: a 2–1 defeat to FC Augsburg in January. Alongside that, they've recorded 38 wins and ten draws. Their current run of 21 league games without defeat is the longest of any team in Europe’s top five divisions.

Away from home, the German record champions are now undefeated in 29 Bundesliga encounters. The Munich men won 21 of those, whilst eight ended in draws. Only once in the competition’s history have FCB gone even longer without defeat on the road: between 2012 and 2014, they went 33 consecutive away matches without losing.

Impressive record against SCF

Under Vincent Kompany, Bayern have won all four Bundesliga encounters against Freiburg, scoring 13 goals in the process. The Black Forest side have now gone 20 Bundesliga games without a win against the Munich men. Their most recent victory against FCB in the German top flight came in May 2015 – since then, the Bavarians have won 16 times, whilst the sides have shared the spoils four times.

However, the hosts are currently enjoying their most successful run in a long time. Despite suffering their first defeat of the season last weekend at Leverkusen (2–1), Freiburg have picked up 13 points from six matchdays, making this their joint-best start to a Bundesliga campaign. This is only the second time since the 2016/17 season that the Breisgau side have won their first three home matches in the league. Back then, they set a club record by winning their first four.

More facts on Freiburg vs. Bayern

22 goals this season – With 22 goals, Bayern boast the best attack in the Bundesliga. 18 of those goals came in their first three home games against Stuttgart (5–1), Union Berlin (7–0) and Leipzig (6–1) – a record.

17 attempts on target – In their 6–1 win over Leipzig, Bayern fired 17 shots at the opponents’ goal. Since comprehensive data collection began in 2004/05, they've only surpassed that figure twice: in their 4–1 win at Hertha BSC in January 2022 (19) and in their 1–1 draw with Borussia Mönchengladbach in August 2022 (20).

Sights set on a sixth Sunday win – Since a 2–2 draw against 1. FSV Mainz 05 in December last year, Bayern have won all five of their Bundesliga games played on a Sunday, scoring 23 goals and conceding just five in the process. In Freiburg, Bayern could secure their first ever run of six consecutive wins in Sunday kick-offs.

Five assists – With five assists, Harry Kane is joint-top provider in the league this season. That means the England captain has already equalled his tally from last term after just six matchdays (having achieved it in 31 appearances last season).

5.6 xGA – Freiburg have allowed the fewest shots on target in the league this season (15), with Bayern second-lowest (17). Both teams also boast the best expected goals against (xGA) figure in the Bundesliga, at 5.6.

Zero goals conceded from headers – SCF have scored the most headed goals of any team in this Bundesliga season (four). Bayern, on the other hand, are the only club not to have conceded a single goal from a header. So both teams lead the way in the air: Freiburg have won 55 percent of their aerial duels, Bayern 56 percent.

After missing Wednesday’s Champions League match due to suspension, September POTM Michael Olise is set to return to action against SCF: