Will Freiburg also lose their third match of the season against WHU?

For the second year in a row, SC Freiburg have made it to the round of 16 of the UEFA Europa League. After failing to reach the last 16 against Juventus in 2022/23, the Breisgauers are aiming to reach the quarter-finals of a European competition for the first time in the club’s history this season. However, it will certainly be a difficult task, as West Ham United are not only the reigning Conference League champions, but also a team that has already brought the Bundesliga club to its knees twice in the group stage

Now, however, the cards are being reshuffled, which is why coach Christian Streich’s team, who celebrated a sensational comeback against Lens in the intermediate round, believe they have a realistic chance of eliminating the Londoners. The prerequisite for this is undoubtedly a good result in the first leg in front of a home crowd. If, on the other hand, a bet on an away win for the visitors from the island comes true on Thursday evening between Freiburg and West Ham, this would of course categorically worsen the prospects of progressing to the quarter-finals

The South Germans’ aim must be to build on last Friday’s courageous home performance. The Black Forest side clearly set the tone for half an hour against a weakening Bayern, but failed to convert their superiority into a bigger lead. In the end, a respectable 2:2 draw stood on the scoreboard at the final whistle.

For the first leg of the Europa League round of 16, however, Streich’s team must improve defensively in particular to secure a good starting position. If Freiburg’s prediction of a maximum of one goal from the “Irons” in the first leg against West Ham goes through, there is much to suggest that Sport-Club will still hold all the aces in the second leg

Freiburg – statistics & current form

So far, those responsible at SC Freiburg cannot be satisfied with the young soccer year 2024. The Breisgauers have played ten competitive matches and have only celebrated a single three-pointer in regular time. In the Bundesliga, the Black Forest side have now gone six matches without a win. They currently sit in 17th place in the table for the second half of the season. In the overall standings, Sport-Club have dropped to ninth place with just two points from their last six games. Another qualification for the international competition has receded into the distance.

The fact that the southern tip of the Federal Republic of Germany is nevertheless reserved in its criticism is primarily due to the team’s performance in the Europa League, where coach Christian Streich’s side put on a real show in the intermediate round. After trailing 2-0 in the second leg (0-0 in the first leg), the Bundesliga side fought back impressively in the last second against relegated Champions League side Lens to win 3-2 in extra time and advance to the round of 16.

Freiburg must improve considerably defensively

The Sport-Club’s showpiece on the European stage so far has undoubtedly been its offense. After eight matches, the Breisgauers have already scored 20 goals. Gregoritsch, Grifo and Sallai are particularly noteworthy, with four goals each. Rolland Sallai also scored twice in the aforementioned 3:2 comeback win against Lens and also got on the scoresheet in the EL home game against West Ham United in the group stage

The potent attack, which has also scored at least once in six of the last seven Bundesliga games, has recently been accompanied by a fragile defense. No other club in the German top flight has conceded more goals in the second half of the season than Streich’s team (18). They have conceded two or more goals seven times in a row and in eight of their last nine competitive matches.

This is exactly what they need to build on in order to keep their chances of progressing. We assume that Sport-Club will adopt a more wait-and-see approach in the first leg and that we will therefore see fewer goals than expected. As a result, it might make sense to make a prediction of 1X & Under 3.5 between Freiburg and West Ham, especially as the visitors from the English capital are unlikely to take full risks and would be satisfied with a point-split instead.

Predicted Freiburg line-up:

West Ham – Statistics & current form

West Ham United Football Club are currently facing a number of challenges. The personnel situation of manager David Moyes, who led the Hammers to Europa Conference League triumph in the previous season, is still unresolved. The coach’s contract expires at the end of the season and, according to a curious rumor, German sporting director Tim Steidten wants to convince Thomas Tuchel, of all people, to become his potential successor in the English capital.

Over the last two weekends, however, David Moyes was able to promote his own cause once again, as the Irons won 4-2 against Brentford and then 3-1 at Everton FC after six consecutive league games without a win, including three defeats without scoring a goal. WHU thus improved to seventh place in the table and can once again dream of qualifying for international business. Secretly, however, the Londoners are even hoping for a Champions League ticket in 2024/25, although this could only be achieved by winning the Europa League outright

West Ham don’t have to play to win

There is virtually no question that the European competition has turned out to be a real feel-good oasis for the Hammers recently, given the results. 15 out of a possible 18 points were secured in the group stage. The most recent three games were all won without conceding a goal. On the positive side for SCF, WHU have never won four games in a row in the UEFA Cup or Europa League.

In any case, we do not necessarily assume that the Premier League club will play with all their might to win on Thursday evening. Based on their Conference League run in the previous season and in view of their previous EL away games, all of which were very close and never ended with more than three goals in the match, the main priority for Moyes’ team will be to avoid falling behind and take at least a draw back to the island. A 0-0 or 1-1 draw would definitely be good results for the Irons, who would then have everything in their own hands next week with home strength behind them. Incidentally, those who think a draw is likely will find odds of 3.50 on the X after 90 minutes between Freiburg and West Ham at Bwin.

Predicted line-up of West Ham:

Freiburg – West Ham head-to-head comparison / H2H result

The clubs have already faced each other in two matches in the group stage. West Ham United narrowly prevailed 2:1 at Europa-Park-Stadion. The Premier League side even celebrated a 2-0 win at home. For the first time ever in their own European club history, the Irons could now celebrate three wins against the same team within a season

Freiburg – West Ham betting tip

Christian Streich is a living legend at SC Freiburg. However, the soccer coach was denied one wish in the round of 16 of the Europa League. Instead of being able to add a new destination to his personal European map, Sport-Club will once again travel to the English capital next week. As in the group stage, Freiburg will once again face West Ham. Judging by the betting odds, the Irons have the slightly better chances of advancing to the quarter-finals.

However, after their memorable triumph in the intermediate round against RC Lens, the Breisgauers could develop a special momentum of their own, which also led Eintracht Frankfurt to the Europa League final in 2022 and even to overall victory. Although we are still a long way away from that, we believe that the Bundesliga club can achieve a good result against the seventh-placed team in the Premier League at their own stadium. Furthermore, we expect – despite many statistics – fewer goals than the bookmakers

Finally, our preferred approach is to bet on the 1X & Under 3.5 between Freiburg and West Ham.