Will Freiburg’s record remain pristine?
Sc Freiburg are ploughing through the Europa League group stage so far. After three matchdays, the Breisgauer have not yet conceded a single point. Consequently, Christian Streich’s team is leading the Group G standings. There are many indications that the Sport-Club will make it directly to the round of 16 as group winners.
If a prediction on an away win between Nantes and Freiburg in the early slot from 18:45 on Thursday evening pays off and Qarabag do not win at home against Olympiakos Piraeus in the parallel match, the Southern Germans would no longer be able to take first place in the group of four after the fourth matchday. Before that, however, they will have to do their own homework first and foremost.
When looking at the Nantes vs. Freiburg odds, it becomes clear that the visitors from the Black Forest have the better chances of winning the second leg. The previous week, Grifo and Co. had already deservedly put the French opponents in their place with a 2:0 win in front of their home crowd. Away from home, the task is likely to be a little more complicated, even though the Breisgau side is qualitatively stronger. Particularly in terms of squad width.
Nantes – Statistics & current form
FC Nantes are currently going through a very difficult phase in the still young season. Antonine Kombouaré’s side have not won a competitive match in over a month. Their last league win even dates back to the end of August. The Canaries have failed to win six matches in a row, and five of these six winless games have even been lost.
The mood in the west of France is icy and, in view of recent performances, there is not necessarily any improvement in sight. Particularly dramatic in a review of the past six games is the fact that four times they have failed to score a goal of their own. In France’s top flight, the only team with fewer goals than FC Nantes is promoted Ajaccio, who are also in penultimate place in the standings.
Nantes completely out of form at the moment
It would therefore be quite a surprise if a bet on the hosts should pay off on Thursday evening between Nantes and Freiburg. A small glimmer of hope is that the Yellow-Greens are somewhat stronger at home than away. The Canaries have won five of their only seven points in Ligue 1 at home. They also won their only home game in the UEFA Europa League to date against Olympiakos Piraeus.
That is exactly why the French side can still count on advancing. Admittedly, these chances would be reduced to a minimum in the event of another defeat against the Bundesliga side. Due to the current lack of form, the harmlessness in the offensive and the qualitative disadvantages, especially when it comes to the squad depth in the fourth match within eleven days, the prediction of an away win in the duel Nantes vs. Freiburg is definitely worth considering.
Predicted Nantes line-up:
Last games of Nantes:
Ligue 1
09/10/2022 – Rennes 3 – 0 Nantes
Europa League Grp. G
07/10/2022 – SC Freiburg 2 – 0 Nantes
Ligue 1
02/10/2022 – AS Monaco 4 – 1 Nantes
18/09/2022 – Nantes 0 – 0 Lens
Europa League Grp. G
15/09/2022 – Qarabag FK 3 – 0 Nantes
Freiburg – Statistics & current form
For SC Freiburg, the international adventure in the Europa League has been one success story so far. The Sport-Club has played three matches in the group phase and has left the pitch as winner three times. With the maximum number of points, the Streich team is thus leading the action in Group G and could punch its ticket to the next round early on Thursday.
After the fantastic start, it is probably only a question of whether the Breisgauers can avoid two additional games in the sixteen-finals or ultimately have to settle for second place. Even in the event of a defeat on Thursday evening, the reigning Cup runners-up would still be top of the table and still hold all the cards.
Freiburg are hard to beat at the moment
Defensively in particular, the sixth-placed team from last year’s Bundesliga season has been able to leave its mark on this competition so far. Keeper Mark Flekken has only had to make one save in 270 minutes of play. In none of the aforementioned three group matches would a bet on the over 3.5 have gone through. With this in mind, it may also be an option to check the odds on a point win for the southern Germans in combination with a maximum of three goals in the course of the match between Nantes and Freiburg.
Things are also going pretty well for the Black Forest side in the Bundesliga. Although Sport-Club had to settle for a 2-2 draw with Hertha at the weekend, this extended their unbeaten streak to seven games on the national stage. In total, this makes it ten matches in a row without defeat. The last, and at times only, cross-competition defeat of the season came on 12 August at home against BVB. The Streich protégés have never lost away from home. That should remain the case on Thursday evening in the west of France.
Predicted line-up of Freiburg:
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Last matches of Freiburg:
Bundesliga
09/10/2022 – Hertha BSC 2 – 2 SC Freiburg
Europa League Grp. G
07/10/2022 – SC Freiburg 2 – 0 Nantes
Bundesliga
01/10/2022 – SC Freiburg 2 – 1 Mainz 05
19/09/2022 – Hoffenheim 0 – 0 SC Freiburg
Europa League Grp. G
15/09/2022 – Olympiakos Piraeus 0 – 3 SC Freiburg
Nantes – Freiburg Direct comparison / H2H-balance
The first leg a week ago was the first and so far only meeting between these two teams. Daniel Kyereh and Vincenzo Grifo scored the goals for the 2-0 victory in the second half. Over the entire match, the Breisgau side only allowed two shots on goal. Anyone who therefore believes that we will see a goal festival on Thursday evening is probably mistaken.
Nantes – Freiburg tip
SC Freiburg have been the poster boys of German football in the second/third-tier UEFA club competitions so far. The Breisgauer are on an impressive nine points after three matchdays and can already plan to spend the winter in Europe. However, Streich’s team does not want to put a stop to the group phase too early, as it is also a question of advancing as the first team in order to save themselves two additional games.
With this in mind, the Black Forest side will take their task in the west of France quite seriously on Thursday evening. The best case scenario is a fourth win in the fourth game. Incidentally, there are many indications that this will be the case. Among other things, the betting odds before the clash between Nantes and Freiburg put the guest from Germany in the role of favourite.
And rightly so, as the second-last-placed team from France is playing against the second-placed team from the Bundesliga, which is also unbeaten in ten games, has not lost away from home in the entire season and already won the first leg 2:0 a week ago. However, because the Streich eleven are not obliged to win, we are content with a tip of 3.5 between Nantes and Freiburg.
