With the likes of Leon Bailey, Julian Brandt and Kai Havertz to call on, Bayer Leverkusen needn't look far for inspiration when they travel to Freiburg on Sunday (kick-off 1:30pm CEST/12:30pm BST/7:30am ET).
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The 4-1 drubbing they received at Augsburg on Matchday 6 undid some of the good work Freiburg had done in their preceding three matches — seven points from a possible nine, including wins over Wolfsburg and Schalke. With meetings against three of the current top four to come after the October international break, Christian Streich will hope his team can tighten up at the back with 13 goals conceded so far. At the other end, Nils Petersen, is a major doubt after missing the Augsburg defeat with a shoulder problem. Florian Niederlechner and Rolland Sallai could once again lead the line, in his absence.
Leverkusen were also beaten on Matchday 6. Die Werkself threw away a two-goal lead against Borussia Dortmund, before succumbing to a 4-2 defeat. Heiko Herrlich's side played out another goal-fest in the UEFA Europa League against Larnaca in midweek, but this time ran out 4-2 winners - thanks in no small part to second-half substitutes Brandt and Lucas Alario, the latter scoring twice after replacing Bailey at half-time. All three could start in Freiburg, while defender Jonathan Tah is set to return after being rested. Aleksandar Dragovic will likely make way.
Probable line-ups
Freiburg: Schwolow – Lienhart, Gulde, Heintz – Stenzel, Koch, Höfler, Günter – Frantz (c), Niederlechner, SallaiAbsentees: Abrashi, Borrello (both cruciate ligament), Petersen (shoulder), Stanko (knee)Coach: Christian Streich
Leverkusen: Hradecky – Weiser, Tah, S. Bender, Wendell – L. Bender (c), Kohr – Bailey, Havertz, Brandt – AlarioAbsentees: Aranguiz (knee), Baumgartlinger (ligament), Bellarabi (suspended), Pohjanpalo (leg), Retsos (hand)Coach: Heiko Herrlich
Match stats
Leverkusen have already lost four times in their first six outings of the season, one more than during the entire Hinrunde in 2017/18.
Along with bottom side Hannover, Freiburg and Leverkusen have the joint-worst defensive record in the Bundesliga so far, having shipped 13 goals in six games.
The away team has failed to win in the last 10 Bundesliga meetings between these two sides. The last victory on the road went Freiburg's way in March 2012 (2-0).
Leverkusen forward Kevin Volland has scored seven goals in nine Bundesliga meetings with Freiburg, including a brace in last season's 4-0 win at the BayArena.
Petersen finished second behind Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski in last season's scoring charts, with 15 goals, and got off the mark in the current campaign against Wolfsburg on Matchday 4 (3-1). He has previously scored twice against Die Werkself, most recently in a 2-1 home win in April 2017.
Leverkusen coach Heiko Herrlich grew up in Waldkirch, a small town 15 kilometres from Freiburg, and played for the youth team of the Black Forest club between 1986 and 1989.