FC Bayern Munich wants to end three exhausting English weeks with a home win against SC Freiburg.
“We definitely want to win, but we know how difficult the task is. We want to be there on Sunday,” said coach Thomas Tuchel. The final training session was the final warm-up to the cup scare from Breisgau.
Six months ago, Munich were eliminated from the cup quarter-finals against Freiburg after conceding a penalty goal in stoppage time. “We played again in Freiburg immediately afterwards and won,” said Tuchel, remembering the 1-0 win a few days later. The winning goalscorer from back then, Matthijs de Ligt, will be missing on Sunday (5.30 p.m./DAZN), as will Serge Gnabry, who is injured.
Tuchel reported that the “long journey” to Copenhagen, where FC Bayern won 2-1 in the Champions League, was “already in the bones”. “We’ve had a lot of away games now,” said the 50-year-old. Tuchel left it open how many changes he would make. Thomas Müller, who shone as a joker in Denmark, “is definitely a candidate to start against Freiburg”. Leon Goretzka could return to the starting line-up.
No home defeat against Freiburg yet
In 23 Bundesliga home games against Freiburg, FC Bayern have yet to suffer a defeat with 20 wins. But the cup defeat is warning enough. Nicolas Höfler, who is missing this time due to suspension, and Lucas Höler scored the goals for SC. Dayot Upamecano had given Bayern the lead.
“We know how difficult the task is. Freiburg changes the basic order very often, I don’t know whether they can prepare for all eventualities,” said Tuchel. “It may be that the requirements change more frequently. I am firmly convinced that Freiburg will do everything in its power to make our lives as difficult as possible. We have to prepare for that.”
