SC Freiburg vs. SV Werder Bremen preview: Thioune’s debut at Europa-Park Stadion

Werder Bremen are looking to end their winless streak as Daniel Thioune faces one of the best home teams in the Bundesliga on his debut.

Daniel Thioune hopes for a solid start to life in the Bundesliga as his Werder Bremen side look to end a ten-game winless run against Freiburg. Meanwhile, the hosts are unbeaten in the last 13 games in front of their supporters in all competitions.

SC Freiburg

Julian Schuster’s side are winless in their last four games away from home after their narrow defeat in the Baden-Württemberg derby against Stuttgart. However, they’re in a different form at home with a 13-game unbeaten streak in all competitions.

One of their only two away wins in the Bundesliga also came in the reverse fixture against Bremen. Vincenzo Grifo registered a goal and an assist in a 3-0 win that was helped by Noah Atubolu saving Romano Schmid’s penalty-kick.

Team News

Defenders Philipp Lienhart and Lukas Kübler will continue to be on the sidelines due to injuries. Vincenzo Grifo, who has seven career goals against Bremen, played the last two Bundesliga games off the bench.

Werder Bremen

Thioune was unsuccessful in his attempts to bring back Hamburger SV and Fortuna Düsseldorf into the Bundesliga, but Werder Bremen’s bosses trusted him to keep them in the division after Horst Steffen’s departure. The Green and Whites are now winless in ten league games, despite Keke Topp’s goal earning them a late point against Borussia Mönchengladbach.

Bremen also have a poor record in recent head-to-head fixtures against Freiburg as they lost 5-0 in their last visit to Europa-Park Stadion in addition to the result from the Hinrunde. Freiburg won six of their last seven games against Freiburg.

Team News

There are no new injuries in Bremen’s squad, but the arrival of a new coach could lead to both system and lineup changes. Julián Malatini will most likely earn another start in the continued absence of Amos Pieper.

Predicted Lineups

Freiburg: Atubolu; Treu, Ginter, Rosenfelder, Günter ©; Eggestein, Manzambi; Beste, Suzuki, Grifo; Matanovic

Bremen: Backhaus; Malatini, Friedl ©, Coulibaly; Sugawara, Lynen, Schmidt; Schmid, Stage; Njinmah, Mbangula