A thrilling Europa League encounter is on the cards as Viktoria Plzeň welcomes SC Freiburg to the Doosan Arena in Czechia! Both teams are eager to secure a crucial victory and move closer to the knockout stages. Let's dive into what to expect from this exciting match.
Plzeň's Form: Goals Galore, Defensive Woes
Viktoria Plzeň aims to turn around their recent patchy form. While they've struggled to secure wins, their attacking prowess is undeniable. They've consistently found the back of the net, scoring six goals in their last two games and a total of 21 in their last 10. However, their defensive frailties have been a major concern, conceding eight goals in their last two matches – a stark contrast to their previous defensive solidity.
Freiburg's Bounce-Back Opportunity
Freiburg travels to Czechia after a heavy 6-2 defeat against Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga. Despite the scoreline, Freiburg's bold attacking approach in that match earned them praise, even taking a surprising 2-0 lead early on. They will be looking to put that result behind them and continue their strong Europa League campaign, where they are yet to taste defeat.
Team News and Lineups
Viktoria Plzeň Starting XI: Wiegele – Dweh, Jemelka, Doski – Souaré, Červ, Valenta, Memić – Durosinmi, Vydra (c), Adu
Freiburg Starting XI: Atubolu, Kübler, Ginter, Lienhart, Günter (c) – Eggestein, Osterhage – Beste, Suzuki, Grifo - Adamu
Freiburg coach Julian Schuster has made significant changes to the team that faced Bayern, with key players returning to the starting lineup.
Historical Context
This match marks Plzeň's tenth competitive game against a German team. Unfortunately for the Czech side, they haven't secured a victory in any of their previous encounters. Freiburg will be hoping to extend this winless streak.
Atmosphere and Support
Around 900 Freiburg fans are expected to travel to the Doosan Arena to support their team, creating a vibrant atmosphere for this Europa League clash.
Will Plzeň overcome their defensive issues and secure a much-needed win? Or will Freiburg continue their unbeaten Europa League run? Tune in to find out!