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-remaining 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 approach 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 remaining in Istanbul.

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

They then circled 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-remaining for the primary time of their historical past.

The Breisgau-Brasilianer are actually making ready to face Spanish opposition in European competitors for the primary time since dropping 2-0 residence 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 objectives as they fought again from two objectives all the way down to condemn Julian Schuster‘s facet to again-to-again residence league defeats.

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

© Imago / ZUMA Press Wire

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 section playoffs after ending in sixteenth spot within the league section. 

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

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

Claudio Giraldez‘s expenses will head to Freiburg in excessive spirits after coming from behind to pull off a 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 prone to turn into a Champions League qualification spot.

With Celta eyeing their first Europa League semi-remaining in 9 years, they are going to be hoping to say a constructive consequence on Thursday forward of subsequent week’s return leg, however that will likely be simpler mentioned than completed for a membership that has misplaced two of their earlier three UEFA matches in Germany (D1).

Freiburg Europa League kind:

D W W L L W 

Freiburg kind (all competitions):

D L L W W L 

Celta Vigo Europa League kind:

W D W W D W

Celta Vigo kind (all competitions):

L D D W L W

Team News

© Iconsport / Picture Alliance

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

The medical team may even should 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 via damage, whereas Javi Rueda is suspended for an accumulation of yellow playing cards. 

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

Hugo Alvarez can also be susceptible to lacking Thursday’s fixture after being pressured off at half time in opposition to Valencia as a result of an ankle challenge. 

Freiburg potential beginning lineup:

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

Celta Vigo potential beginning lineup:

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

We say: Freiburg 2-2 Celta Vigo

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

With that in thoughts, we predict the guests will do sufficient to go away Germany with a draw to point out for his or her efforts. 

For knowledge evaluation of the more than likely outcomes, scorelines and extra for this match please click here.