SC Freiburg are travelling to Munich full of confidence after their fourth win from four in Group G of the UEFA Europa League. This is only the third time that SC are going into a clash with Bayern ahead of them in the table, but Christian Streich’s side couldn’t be in better shape for the game. Freiburg’s impressive league position hasn’t been lost on Michael Gregoritsch, who is also fully aware of the threat that Bayern pose: “The league position is something special, but Bayern will want to go above us.” These sentiments are also shared by captain Christian Günter, who knows his side will have to be on their toes on Sunday: “It doesn’t matter where Bayern are in the league table. They are full of quality, you just have to look at how they’re doing in the Champions League,” said Günter, referencing the fact that Bayern have won all four of their games in Group C.

Bayern are currently sat fourth in the table and they have only won one of their last six in the league. This run includes four draws and one defeat, which came away in Augsburg. Nagelsmann’s side could only manage a draw against Borussia Dortmund last time out. Günter, however, is still full of respect for Sunday’s opponents: “They haven’t always got the results that they wanted but if you look at the games objectively, they were always the better side.”

Happy with the league position

Streich’s side, on the other hand, have been in great form in recent weeks. They are unbeaten in the Europa League and haven’t lost in the Bundesliga since matchday 3. It must be said that SC haven’t been dominant in every game but they have taken their chances, been solid at the back and taken advantage of their rub of the green. This was the case in Nantes, when the French side hit the woodwork twice in quick succession.

Freiburg may need a bit of luck in Munich, but Streich is clear that Bayern pose a completely different kind of threat. “It will be a completely different game to in Nantes,” said the boss. “It’s nice that we can travel to Munich in this position. They aren’t above us for once and we hope that they won’t be after the game either.” Skipper Günter was equally as steely ahead of the clash: “We know how good we can be. We want to make it difficult for them and bring our game.”

Streich will have to do without Roland Sallai, Manuel Gulde and Jonathan Schmid in Munich, but SC proved in Nantes that they can still put in a good performance with key players missing. “We have to take it game by game. We have seen that the new players in the starting XI have been doing well. That gives us confidence and gives the side a boost.”

Photo: SC Freiburg