Freiburg vs Strasbourg: Prediction, Betting Tips and Match Preview

Freiburg have been relatively quiet on the transfer front and have played only two pre-season friendlies, with mixed results. Despite this, the German side still looks the stronger outfit compared to a Strasbourg team that has endured a disastrous preparation period. The French side are currently allowing opponents to create a glut of chances in front of their own goal, and we see no reason to expect a change in that trend for this fixture.

Tactical Analysis

Freiburg: A Quiet Pre-Season

The Bundesliga side have so far contested just two matches. They thrashed Derby County 3-1 in a game played over two 60-minute halves, but then suffered a surprising 3-0 defeat to the weaker Greuther Fürth in a contest split into four 30-minute periods. It is still difficult to gauge the team's true level of fitness and form, but in the Derby County match, their attack was notably lively and aggressive. This could pose a serious problem for a Strasbourg defense that has been consistently leaking goals.

The club has added midfielder Engelhardt (from Como), goalkeeper Mio Backhaus (from Werder Bremen), and midfielder Yamamoto (from Sint-Truiden) to the squad. However, Freiburg have also sold key players: central midfielder Manzambi to Aston Villa for €60 million and midfielder Merlin Röhl to Everton for €25 million. The departure of these influential starters has weakened the squad's depth and overall cohesion.

Strasbourg: A Complete Pre-Season Collapse

The results for the French side are difficult to look at without concern. They have lost all four of their summer friendlies, suffering four consecutive defeats. Losses to a strong Brighton (3-4) and a thrashing at the hands of Sporting Lisbon (0-7) can perhaps be understood, but failures against Blackburn Rovers (0-2) and, most notably, against the clearly weaker Elversberg (2-5) are far more alarming. It is clear that Strasbourg's defense is playing poorly, even against far more modest opposition.

The club has signed midfielder Giovanni Reyna (from Borussia Mönchengladbach), but has sold midfielder Valentín Barco to Chelsea for €40 million and midfielder Junior Mwanga to Le Havre. The loss of the key player Barco has significantly damaged the team's defensive capabilities in the center of the park.

Predicted Lineups

Freiburg: Atubolu – Kübler, Ginter, Lienhart, Günter – Eggestein, Höfler – Doan, Grifo – Höler, Adamu

Strasbourg: Petrovic – Doué, Nyamsi, Sarr, Moreira – Santos, Diarra – Bakwa, Reyna, Nanasi – Emegha

Referee

The match will be officiated by referee Felix Zwayer.

Prediction and Bet

Main Prediction: Freiburg to Win It cannot be said that Freiburg have been hugely impressive in their two pre-season friendlies, but they at least looked very good in their 3-1 win over Derby County. Strasbourg, on the other hand, have lost four matches in a row and are still showing nothing of substance. The only positive note for them is a close match with Brighton (3-4), where they managed to score three times. We do not expect a respectable performance from the French side this time either. The selection is a Freiburg victory.

Total Goals Prediction: Over 3.5 Goals Both teams are currently showing an ability to attack actively while making frequent defensive errors. Freiburg conceded three goals against the weak Greuther Fürth (0-3), while Strasbourg have allowed their opponents to score a total of 14 times across their four pre-season matches. We see no strong reasons to expect a low-scoring contest in this fixture. The selection is total goals over 3.5.