Last season, both teams were in strong form particularly in the second half of the campaign. Stuttgart and Freiburg finished level on points last term (45), with VfB ending the season in ninth just ahead of SCF in tenth based on goal difference (+1).

Freiburg did the double over their Baden-Württemburg rivals last term, winning 3-2 on opening day at the Mercedes-Benz Arena, before following it up with a 2-1 triumph at home. “We also could have lost both games, but luck was on our side,” head coach Christian Streich said while looking back on last season.

Fans won’t have to wait long for the first derby of the 2021/22 season, with matchday 3 pitting both sides against each other already. While SCF will be able to take the momentum from last weekend’s 2-1 win over BVB, Stuttgart are coming off a 4-0 defeat to RB Leipzig and will have several players miss out due to injury. “It’s important that we don’t read too much into Stuttgart’s recent defeat. After all, Leipzig delivered a top performance,” said Streich during a pre-match press conference on Thursday.

Freiburg made sure to focus on recovery following their home win against BVB, before working hard in training this week. Ahead of what he calls a “complicated game” against Stuttgart, Streich is expecting to see a “hard-fought and intense” match and for his side to deliver a performance similar to last weekend. “We will need to be prepared to push ourselves and to play our way out of trouble, because Stuttgart are a strong side. They will be fully motivated against us,” said Streich. “But, I can promise Stuttgart that the same is true for us.”

Streich will be able to call upon the majority of his players for this weekend’s match. Nils Petersen was able to see some game time in mid-week with the U23s in their game against Würzburger Kickers. Manuel Gulde will be available for selection again after recovering from a hip injury. Jonathan Schmid, meanwhile, will not travel to the game after an individual within his personal circle tested positive for Covid-19. Schmid has since tested negative.

Photo: Achim Keller