Borussia Dortmund vs SC Freiburg preview - Gladbach focused on league - Sommer

Posted Saturday, August 30, 2014 by PA

Borussia Monchengladbach arrive in Freiburg on the crest of a wave following their 7-0 win over Sarajevo in the Europa League on Thursday, but aware that their bread and butter is the Bundesliga.

That emphatic second-leg victory sealed a 10-2 aggregate win and earned the Foals their place in the group stage, where they will face Villarreal, Zurich and Apollon Limassol.

It did not secure them any sort of advantage for their trip to Freiburg, though - other than a psychological boost for a game which matters even more, in the eyes of goalkeeper Yann Sommer.

"The Europa League is a nice bonus and we're delighted to be playing in it, but the Bundesliga is our main business and that's what we're focusing on now," the Swiss goalkeeper told the Rheinische Post newspaper.

Branimir Hrgota, who netted a hat-trick on Thursday night, evoked the atmosphere in the Gladbach camp ahead of their second Bundesliga game of the season, the first ending in a 1-1 draw with Stuttgart last Sunday.

"We've played four games now and not lost one of them," he said. "Of course this gives us self-confidence for the trip to Freiburg.

"But we don't have much time for celebration. I can enjoy the (Sarajevo) game a bit, but then we need to prepare for our next challenge.

"We've got so many important matches coming up so we've just got to keep our concentration.

"Then I'm optimistic that we'll play many great games this season."

Freiburg coach Christian Streich knew even before Thursday night's win what kind of a team his side are coming up against.

"They are even stronger than last season," he said. "Our aim on Sunday has got to be to work hard in trying to stop them because we know what quality they have got."

The hosts will be without the suspended Karim Guede, but their two new signings this week - Dani Schahin and Marc Torrejon - are both in the squad and could make their debuts.

"Right now, I don't have my starting XI in my mind," admitted Streich, who cannot pick Sascha Riether either, although he and Mensur Mujdza are now back in training.