Borussia Dortmund vs Freiburg: Bundesliga Title Back on BVB’s Agenda

• Bayern Munich’s stuttering form has opened the door to the Bundesliga title race

• Neither Borussia Dortmund nor Freiburg is particularly far off the top spot in the table 

• Dortmund are looking good and they can make it four wins in a row on Saturday

Borussia Dortmund vs Freiburg Odds

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Borussia Dortmund vs Freiburg Pick

There have been plenty of goals in games involving Christian Streich's side of late, and that trend could continue here - albeit in a defeat.

Back Borussia Dortmund to beat Freiburg and over 2.5 goals in total.  (+125)

Borussia Dortmund vs Freiburg Predictions

Borussia Dortmund Could Be In Bundesliga Title Race After All

Just before World Cup 2022, Borussia Dortmund fans were in the semi-familiar position of cursing their team. Back-to-back defeats by Wolfsburg and Borussia Monchengladbach had left them sixth in the standings going into a three-month break. Nine points adrift of spot, their Bundesliga title chances looked to be over.

In fact, such a judgment was premature. That is in part because Dortmund have won three matches on the bounce since the Bundesliga season resumed. 

Two of those victories were somewhat unconvincing, as BVB edged out Augsburg 4-3 and then required a last-gasp winning goal from Gio Reyna to beat Mainz 2-1. But a 2-0 defeat of Bayer Leverkusen last time out was hugely impressive given their opponents had just put together a five-match winning streak.

But the main reason why Dortmund are suddenly back in the title conversation is Bayern’s stuttering form. The reigning champions have drawn three games in a row, all of them 1-1. 

They remain top of the table for now, but their lead over second-placed Union Berlin has been trimmed to just one point, with Dortmund (and Freiburg) another two points back. In fact, by the time Julian Nagelsmann’s side take to the field against Wolfsburg on Sunday, they could feasibly be fourth.

There is no great expectation for Dortmund to win the title. Overhauling Bayern will still be tough; after all, there is a reason why they have won each of the last 10 championships. Indeed, worse Bayern teams than the current one have managed to finish on top of the pile over the past decade.

But BVB must ensure they remain within touching distance of Nagelsmann’s side. They cannot allow sides like Union Berlin or Freiburg to bring the fight to Bayern while they are scrambling for a top-four finish.

Overachieving Freiburg Have Been Inconsistent in Recent Games

It seemed like last season was the apex of Christian Streich’s remarkable tenure in charge of Freiburg. The long-serving manager, who was handed the reins in 2011, led the club to a sixth-place finish in the Bundesliga, despite having one of the smallest budgets in Germany’s top flight. 

Freiburg had actually finished fifth once before, but last term also saw them move into their new home, Europa-Park Stadion, and it was tempting to wonder whether Streich really could take the club any further.

It turns out he may well be able to. Freiburg head into the weekend in fifth place. It is unlikely, but it is possible that they could go top of the table if they beat Borussia Dortmund and other results go their way. 

The Breisgau-Brasilianer did briefly rise to the summit of the standings back in September, at which point Streich was continuing to insist that avoiding relegation was his principal objective for the campaign. 

Needless to say, Freiburg will realize that ambition without any difficulty whatsoever. The question is: can they really qualify for the Champions League? The best online sportsbooks still have them down as outsiders, but the lesson from throughout Streich’s time in charge of Freiburg is to never write them off.

Their form has been patchy of late, though, Freiburg have won just two of their last five matches, a stretch which includes a 6-0 demolition by Wolfsburg last month. Even so, this will still be a tricky game for Dortmund.

Borussia Dortmund Have the Quality to Win This Encounter

The strength in depth of Borussia Dortmund’s squad is second only to Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga. Sebastien Haller is back in the fold after receiving treatment for a testicular tumor, while Mahmoud Dahoud is also available for selection once more following a shoulder injury. Edin Terzic has plenty of options at his disposal.

Dortmund have demonstrated this depth in recent weeks, with second-half substitutes key to their victories over both Augsburg and Mainz. Saturday’s match may well be decided from the bench, where Terzic has several game-changers to turn to if things are not going to plan.

Freiburg’s recent games have tended to be eventful. Their last five matches have yielded, on average, 3.4 goals. Clean sheets in particular have eluded them, and shutting down Dortmund’s attack will be a tough task. 

All in all, the best choice from a betting perspective is probably a home win in a game featuring more than 2.5 goals. Dortmund are on a roll after winning three games in a row, but it would be a surprise if this is a low-scoring affair.

How to Watch Borussia Dortmund vs Freiburg

• Teams: Borussia Dortmund vs Freiburg

• Location: Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund, Germany

• Time: Saturday 4 February 2023, 9.30 AM EST

• How To Watch: ESPN+