While it has been a week and a half since SC Freiburg’s last competitive outing in the Bundesliga, Hertha BSC were in action on Monday evening, giving a clear impression of the capital city club’s approach. “Hertha played one of the Rückrunde’s strongest sides on Monday and came away with a point. That’s a very valuable point from my point of view,” said Christian Streich at the virtual pre-match press conference at the Schwarzwald-Stadion on Tuesday. After two weeks mandatory quarantine following several positive COVID-19 test results, Pal Dardai’s team were back on the pitch on Monday evening as they played the first of three games in hand.

Just three days after, the next game is on the agenda against SC Freiburg. In addition to using the time off from the Bundesliga for analysis of upcoming opponents, Christian Streich’s team have also held intensive sessions on the training ground. “We had a normal week of training from Thursday to Thursday. We were able to structure it well in terms of our schedule,” explained SC’s head coach. Streich is convinced his team is well prepared for the game on Thursday evening. “We’ll do our best to play with conviction out of possession and with joy on the ball. That’s how we’ll approach it.”

Freiburg are within touching distance of mathematical safety with 41 points. The hosts meanwhile are still in the midst of a relegation battle. With two games more than their rivals still to play, Hertha are one place above bottom with 27 points. They are two points off the relegation play-off spot and three points off safety. Freiburg should take nothing for granted, however. After the 4-0 win over Schalke and the 1-1 draw with Hoffenheim, we will be looking to take as many points as possible home from Berlin.

"Hertha are fighting to remain in the Bundesliga. Obviously they don’t have many games left and they need the points. They have games coming up where they will want to collect points no matter what – from their point of view they have to. So they will be highly motivated, but so will we,” said the Freiburg boss. "We want to match them from a playing point of view. We are ambitious, we are athletes. It’s about giving all you’ve got against every opponent. I am convinced that the team will want to put in a good showing at the Olympiastadion."

Freiburg are well set in terms of personnel. All players are currently available.