Borussia Dortmund may be through to the quarterfinal stage of the Champions League, but the club has effectively been dethroned as German champion and is now in a two-way battle for second place with Bayer Leverkusen, which hosts leader Bayern Munich in one of Saturday’s late kickoffs.
Although Dortmund has not lost to Freiburg since 2010, chances of a sixth straight victory over the Bundesliga’s eighth-place side will be hampered by the absence of defender Mats Hummels, who was withdrawn at the break during last weekend’s derby loss to Schalke with an ankle injury. He will be replaced by the Brazilian Felipe Santana, who has started just 13 matches in all competitions this season.
Dortmund manager Jurgen Klopp is also likely to be without captain - and former Freiburg player - Sebastian Kehl, as the central midfielder battles niggling injuries.
Freiburg, which is winless in its past three Bundesliga matches but through to the semifinals of the DFB Pokal, will be without central midfielder Cedric Makiadi due to a knee injury as well as striker Sebastian Freis, who continues to recover following shoulder surgery.
