Hamburg SV are riding a wave of relief after securing their Bundesliga survival for another season, and they'll look to cap off their campaign with a strong performance against Europa League finalists Freiburg this Sunday at the Volksparkstadion.
The Red Shorts breathed a massive sigh of relief on matchday 32, coming from behind to beat Eintracht Frankfurt 2-1 at Deutsche Bank Park. Goals from Albert Grønbæk and Fabio Vieira ended a six-game winless run and pushed HSV eight points clear of the relegation zone with just two matches left to play. While safety is secured, the 12th-placed side will be eager to finish on a high note against Freiburg and Bayer Leverkusen.
However, Hamburg will need to rediscover their home form. They've managed just two points from their last five games at the Volksparkstadion since a 3-2 victory over Union Berlin in mid-February. A win on Sunday would also be a historic one—it would mark their first triumph over Freiburg since a 1-0 home win back in April 2018.
The hosts will be without injured duo Alexander Røssing-Lelesiit and Robert Glatzel, while Miro Muheim is a fitness doubt for the fixture. Fans can expect a lineup featuring Fernandes in goal, with Capaldo, Vušković, and Torunarigha anchoring the defense, and Jatta, Remberg, Vieira, Lokonga, and Grønbæk providing creativity in midfield. Königsdörffer and Stange are likely to lead the attack.
Freiburg, meanwhile, are still buzzing after making history. Julian Schuster's side booked their spot in the Europa League final with a thrilling 3-1 win over 10-man Braga on Thursday, overturning a first-leg deficit to advance 3-2 on aggregate. Lukas Kübler scored twice, with Johan Manzambi adding another, as the Breisgau-Brasilianer took full advantage of an early red card for Braga's Mario Dorgeles. The victory sets up a showdown with Premier League side Aston Villa in Istanbul on May 20, where Freiburg will chase their first major trophy.
Winning the Europa League would also secure a Champions League spot for next season, but for now, Freiburg need to ensure they at least lock down European football through their league position. With momentum on their side and a dream final on the horizon, expect a motivated and confident visiting side in Hamburg this weekend.