RB Leipzig vs Freiburg Preview: How to Watch on TV, Live Stream, Kick Off Time & Team News

The Bundesliga is back. RB Leipzig are back. Julian Nagelsmann is back.

Now...this is epic.

Die Roten Bullen have been a joy to watch throughout their generational coach's debut campaign at the helm, as they were crowned the Herbstmeister (autumn champions) before a pretty disappointing drop off in form saw them fall five points adrift of Hansi Flick's special Bayern side.

Konrad Laimer has been an underrated star in Leipzig's success this season / TF-Images/Getty Images

Nevertheless, Leipzig return this weekend - after a two-month coronavirus hiatus - as they play host to a hard-working Freiburg side on Saturday afternoon.

Christian Streich hasn't done anything spectacular with Breisgau-Brasilianer this term as they sit in eighth, though they have flirted with the Bundesliga summit on occasions. Much of their early success was built off sheer work ethic in a pretty basic and direct 4-4-2.

This one promises to be an intriguing one nonetheless with the tactically versatile Nagelsmann coming out to play once more. His side will be looking to close the gap at the top before Bayern travel to Union Berlin on Sunday.

Where to Watch

When is Kick Off?: Saturday 16 May
What Time is Kick Off?: 14:30 (BST)
Where is it Played?: Red Bull Arena
TV Channel/Live Stream: BT Sport (UK), fuboTV (US)

Team News

Nagelsmann's flexibility will be put to the test this weekend as Dayot Upamecano is ruled out through suspension. The last time the Frenchman was missing - Spurs away in the Champions League - the Leipzig boss opted for Ethan Ampadu as his direct replacement in a back three.

The Welshman is a doubt with a back issue, however, while Ibrahima Konate is still a week or two away from full fitness and Willi Orban is reportedly 'far from ready' to make a comeback from his knee injury.

Nordi Mukiele has provided a dual-threat at wing-back this season / Soccrates Images/Getty Images

So this will likely see Nordi Mukiele, who's often been deployed as a marauding wing-back, drop into centre-half to partner the impressive makeshift duo of Lukas Klostermann and Marcel Halstenberg. Tyler Adams, meanwhile, is set for a start at right wing-back.

Freiburg will likely be without centre-back Lukas Kübler for the trip to east Germany as he nurses a knee injury, but Luca Waldschmidt is believed to be fully fit after he missed his side's last two games before the break.

Predicted Lineups

Leipzig: Gulacsi; Mukiele, Klostermann, Halstenberg; Adams, Sabitzer, Laimer, Angelino; Nkunku, Werner; Schick.

Freiburg: Schwolow; Gulde, Koch, Heintz; Schmid, Haberer, Höfler, Günter (c); Waldschmidt, Petersen, Grifo

Head-to-Head Record

Sport-Club Freiburg v RB Leipzig - Bundesliga / TF-Images/Getty Images

These two have faced off nine times since Die Roten Bullen's 2009 inception, with their first meeting coming in the second-tier in 2015 - which ended all-square.

Overall, there's nothing to split these two sides with both winning four encounters each alongside the aforementioned draw.

In the reverse fixture at the Schwarzwald-Stadion back in October though, Freiburg came out on top 2-1 thanks to goals from Nicholas Höfler and Nils Petersen before Klostermann netted a late consolation. That result sent Breisgau-Brasilianer into second in the table.

Recent Form

Leipzig were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Leverkusen back in March / TF-Images/Getty Images

Leipzig's dismantling of a broken Tottenham side over two legs to secure their first Champions League knockout tie victory in history somewhat papered over an indifferent run of form from a domestic perspective.

Sure, there was the 5-0 thrashing in Gelsenkirchen as they pressed Schalke into oblivion but there were also disappointing draws to Wolfsburg and Bayer Leverkusen. They had won just two of their previous seven before the suspension, surrendering a four-point lead over Bayern and turning it into a five-point deficit.

Freiburg similarly endured a demise before the break despite the return of the mightily talented Waldschmidt from long-term injury in January.

Saturday's visitors had picked up just one point from nine before their comfortable 3-1 win over Union Berlin in their last outing, while away from home; Streich's side have won just one of their last ten.

Here's how the pair have fared in their last five encounters.

Leipzig

RB Leipzig 3-0 Tottenham (10/03)
Wolfsburg 0-0 RB Leipzig (07/03)
RB Leipzig 1-1 Bayer Leverkusen (01/03)
Schalke 0-5 RB Leipzig (22/02)
Tottenham 0-1RB Leipzig (19/02)

Freiburg

Freiburg 3-1 Union Berlin (07/03)
Borussia Dortmund 1-0 Freiburg (29/02)
Freiburg 0-2 Fortuna Dusseldorf (22/02)
Augsburg 1-1 Freiburg (15/02)
Freiburg 1-0 Hoffenheim (08/02)

Prediction

These remaining nine games are set to be Timo Werner's last in Leipzig colours / ODD ANDERSEN/Getty Images

The break came at a pretty good time from a Leipzig perspective, as there's little doubting they were enduring a bit of a slump in February/March time.

They now they have the opportunity to come back refreshed and determined to overwhelm opponents with their frightening speed and intensity once more.

Saturday will certainly be a test for the hosts in an unfamiliar environment but you have to back Nagelsmann to have prepared obsessively for this fixture and they should walk away with the three points.

Prediction: RB Leipzig 3-1 Freiburg