SC Freiburg vs RB Leipzig preview: Diomande gives the visitors the edge

SC Freiburg need a result to keep their European push alive, but RB Leipzig arrive with the better head-to-head record and a breakout attacker who has changed the look of their front line. Yan Diomande has 13 goals and 9 assists across 35 games, and the trip to Europa-Park-Stadion is exactly the kind of match where that kind of output tends to matter.

Why Leipzig look more dangerous

Leipzig have not lost to Freiburg in the last 14 meetings, and they are unbeaten in five visits to Europa-Park-Stadion. That is a heavy historical edge, even before you get to Diomande. The winger has also been backed by a strong run of production this season, with 12 Bundesliga goals and 7 assists in the league, plus a 7.76 rating.

The preview from The Hard Tackle is blunt about his role in the contest. After going goalless in his last two outings, Diomande is expected to attack Freiburg's desperate push forward, provide width and link with Romulo on the break. That is a fair read of the matchup, because Freiburg have not kept a clean sheet in eight matches and have conceded 53 league goals.

Leipzig are already third on 65 points, so the pressure is very different on their side. They do not need the result in the same way Freiburg do, which makes them harder to predict and, in this case, probably more dangerous.

Freiburg's margin for error is thin

Julian Schuster's attention is clearly split, with his side also heading into a Europa League final next week Wednesday. Sportsmole.co.uk notes that Champions League qualification through that route is far from certain, with Aston Villa standing in the way.

That leaves Freiburg in a awkward place before the final day. Their last five league results are DLWWL, and they are winless in three Bundesliga games after the 3-2 defeat at Hamburger SV. For a team needing control rather than chaos, that is not the best build-up.

The basic problem is simple enough. Freiburg need a clean, composed home performance, but Leipzig have the form, the fixture record and the most dangerous individual in the match. If Diomande gets space, the visitors should fancy their chances of ending Freiburg's European hopes with one more strong away display.