Can the English side challenge the Europa League finalist? Prediction for Freiburg vs Derby County
Freiburg and Derby County are set to face off in a friendly encounter. The match will take place on Friday, July 24, with kickoff scheduled for 16:00 Central European Time. I’m backing this game to deliver goals.
Last season can be considered one of the most successful in Freiburg’s modern history. The team not only finished seventh in the Bundesliga but also reached the Europa League final, where they narrowly lost to England’s Aston Villa.
The summer transfer window has been a busy one. The main departure is the talented midfielder Johan Manzambi, who joined Aston Villa for €60 million. At the same time, the management acted swiftly to bolster the squad, bringing in goalkeeper Mio Backhaus, midfielders Yannick Engelhardt and Rihito Yamamoto, as well as Japanese forward Keisuke Goto.
Freiburg’s preseason preparations started fairly late. The team has only just headed to their traditional training camp in Schruns, Austria, where they’ll play two friendlies—against Derby County and Greuther Fürth. Goalkeeper Noah Atubolu, who may be on the move, injured Florent Muslija, and World Cup participants Philipp Lienhart and Igor Matanović have not traveled and will join up with the squad later.
Despite the lack of match practice this summer, the German side remains the favorite for this clash. Under coach Christian Streich, Freiburg have kept their core intact, play with relentless attacking intensity, and will look to lay the foundation for a strong start to the season in this very first test.
Derby County wrapped up last season’s Championship campaign in eighth place, just missing out on the playoff zone. John Eustace remains at the helm, with club management hoping the team can take another step forward and challenge for promotion this time around.
The Rams have been measured in the transfer market. They’ve completed a permanent deal for Bobby Clark, who was previously on loan, strengthened the back line with experienced defender Charlie Taylor, and continue to make targeted moves to reinforce the squad. There’s been no major overhaul—the coaching staff is keen to maintain team chemistry.
Their first preseason friendly was a success: Derby confidently defeated Alfreton Town 2-0, thanks to goals from Joe Ward and Bobby Clark. In that match, Eustace changed the entire lineup at halftime, giving almost every player minutes—a standard approach in the early stages of preseason.
After the Freiburg game, the English side will face several tougher tests, including a clash with Valencia. This meeting with a Bundesliga representative will be a good indicator of where Derby currently stand.
Where’s the smart money?
Even though Freiburg are only just starting their run of summer friendlies, the gap in class between the teams is clear. The German club boasts superior quality and is more comfortable in possession. The first half should be relatively even, but as the match wears on, the Bundesliga side’s advantage should tell. I’m backing a Freiburg win with a handicap of 0.
