Nmecha in running training, “committed to the fans” and a strong home record against Freiburg | OneFootball

The scenarioWith four matches remaining, BVB sit second in the table, five points ahead of Leipzig in third. Despite their two recent defeats (0-1 against Leverkusen, 1-2 against Hoffenheim), their lead over fifth, which is outside the qualification places for the UEFA Champions League, remains comfortable as there are still ten points between Dortmund and TSG Hoffenheim. A win on Sunday would see BVB be guaranteed of finishing at least fourth, so that would secure Champions League qualification. Qualification could even be secured on Saturday if Hoffenheim lose in Hamburg and Leverkusen fail to win in Cologne.

“We want to play the last four games the way we’ve played for most of the season. We want to pick up wins. To do that, we need to perform better than we have in the last two games,” demands BVB manager Niko Kovac for the final push. “The lads know what’s at stake and we need finish a good Bundesliga season in a fitting manner. We have a duty to our club and our fans to pick up more points in the next few games than we did in the last two.”

BVB have been successful in their most recent home matches against Freiburg, with their only home defeat to date coming in 2001, when BVB lost 0-2. Since then, there have been 16 wins and one draw in front of their home crowd.

Personnel mattersKarim Adeyemi has not yet resumed training with the team and remains sidelined. “It’s always difficult to give a clear prognosis when it comes to muscle injuries. He needs to feel confident. If he doesn’t feel good, we won’t rush him back into action because that could make things a bit worse,” said Kovac. “I’m convinced that he’ll definitely be back for the Freiburg game, and perhaps also for the Gladbach match.”

Serhou Guirassy, who suffered a mild concussion in the match against Hoffenheim, returned to team training on Friday. Felix Nmecha has resumed running training. “We are confident that he will be back in action before the end of the season,” said Kovac. Niklas Süle had to be substituted due to injury at the weekend and could be available again for the last two games of the season. Captain Emre Can remains sidelined.

Filippo Mane was back in the squad against Hoffenheim and made his comeback in Wednesday’s U23 match in Velbert after several months out with injury. U23 coach Daniel Rios was pleased afterwards: “Filippo was involved in the challenges and wanted to take responsibility.”

The opponentFreiburg have won their last two Bundesliga matches in a row (away at Mainz and at home against Hoffenheim) and have climbed to seventh following their latest victory. Until Thursday, the Sport-Club were still in three competitions, but lost the DFB Pokal semi-final 2-1 a.e.t. to VfB Stuttgart. In the UEFA Europa League, the team have reached the semi-finals after two wins over Celta Vigo and will now face Sporting Braga.

“You’ve seen all season that Freiburg are a very experienced, very seasoned side who know how they need to play to win,” says Kovac of the opposition. “I expect a team that will go full throttle for 90 minutes again. We’ll have to give it our all. The statistics from recent years mean nothing. We need to be on our toes right from the start, and I hope and expect my lads to do just that from the very first minute.”