Preview: Freiburg vs Celta Vigo – prediction, team news, lineups

Bundesliga membership Freiburg will welcome La Liga outfit Celta Vigo to the Europa-Park Stadion for Thursday’s Europa League quarter-last first leg.

The facet that prevails over the 2 legs will go on to face Braga or Real Betis within the semi-finals.

Match preview

Having efficiently navigated their strategy to the Europa League quarter-finals, Freiburg are dreaming of going all the best way to win their first-ever main trophy in May’s last in Istanbul.

The German outfit superior straight to the final 16 after securing a prime-eight spot within the league part with a return of 5 wins, two attracts and one defeat in eight matches.

They then rotated a slim 1-0 deficit in final month’s tie in opposition to Genk, pulling off a formidable 5-1 victory on the Europa-Park Stadion to succeed in a European quarter-last for the primary time of their historical past.

The Breisgau-Brasilianer at the moment are getting ready to face Spanish opposition in European competitors for the primary time since shedding 2-0 dwelling and away to Sevilla within the 2013-14 Europa League group stage.

Freiburg will head into Thursday’s first leg on the again of a frustrating 3-2 defeat to Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich, who scored two stoppage-time targets as they fought again from two targets all the way down to condemn Julian Schuster‘s facet to again-to-again dwelling league defeats.

While they’ve skilled disappointment of their final two home dwelling matches, Freiburg can take confidence from the truth that they’ve gained every of their earlier 9 European outings at Europa-Park Stadion since shedding 2-1 to West Ham United within the 2023-24 group stage.

Celta Vigo, in the meantime, are hoping to observe within the footsteps of Sevilla, Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid, Valencia and Villarreal by turning into the sixth completely different Spanish team to win the Europa League/UEFA Cup.

In distinction to Freiburg, the Galician facet needed to undergo the knockout part playoffs after ending in sixteenth spot within the league part.

Celta noticed off PAOK of Greece by a 3-1 mixture scoreline, earlier than they eradicated league part winners Lyon within the spherical of 16.

After taking part in out a 1-1 attract Balaidos, Celta took full benefit of Moussa Niakhate’s early pink card to assert a 2-0 victory in France, due to targets from Javi Rueda and Ferran Jutgla.

Claudio Giraldez‘s costs will head to Freiburg in excessive spirits after coming from behind to pull off to 3-2 victory in Sunday’s away league conflict with Valencia, leaving them in sixth place and only a level behind Real Betis in fifth place, which is more likely to grow to be a Champions League qualification spot.

With Celta eyeing their first Europa League semi-last in 9 years, they are going to be hoping to assert a optimistic outcome on Thursday forward of subsequent week’s return leg, however that will probably be simpler stated than finished for a membership that has misplaced two of its earlier three UEFA matches in Germany (D1).

Freiburg Europa League kind:

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Freiburg kind (all competitions):

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Celta Vigo Europa League kind:

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Team News

© Iconsport / Picture Alliance

Freiburg stay with out the injured Max Rosenfelder, whereas Jordy Makengo and Patrick Osterhage are each uncertain after sitting out the current conflict with Bayern.

The medical team will even must assess ahead Lucas Holer, who appeared to select up an damage within the latter levels of Saturday’s defeat.

Vincenzo Grifo and Igor Matanovic ought to come again into the facet after dropping all the way down to the bench on the weekend.

As for Celta Vigo, Miguel Roman stays sidelined by means of damage, whereas Javi Rueda is suspended for an accumulation of yellow playing cards.

There are additionally main doubts surrounding the provision of Carl Starfelt, Mihailo Ristic, Matias Vecino and membership legend Iago Aspas.

Hugo Alvarez can be vulnerable to lacking Thursday’s fixture after being compelled off at half time in opposition to Valencia as a result of an ankle concern.

Freiburg doable beginning lineup:

Atubolu; Treu, Ginter, Lienhart, Gunter; Eggestein, Manzambi; Beste, Suzuki, Grifo; Matanovic

Celta Vigo doable beginning lineup:

Radu; Rodriguez, Aidoo, Alonso; Mingueza, Sotelo, Moriba, Carreira; Lopez, Swedberg, Iglesias

We say: Freiburg 2-2 Celta Vigo

Freiburg have gained every of their earlier 9 European dwelling video games, however they’re set to face a Celta facet which have averted defeat in every of their final eight aggressive away matches.

With that in thoughts, we expect the guests will do sufficient to depart Germany with a draw to indicate for his or her efforts.

For information evaluation of the most certainly outcomes, scorelines and extra for this match please click here.