The reality of Freiburg’s relegation to the 2. Bundesliga after six years in Germany’s top tier will become all the more real as they open their campaign against Nürnberg on Monday night.
A summer of change in Freiburg
But Christian Streich will face a daunting challenge to bounce back, with a window that has seen several key players leave with minimal investment to replace them.
With Roman Bürki, Jonathan Schmid and Admir Mehmedi all departing for Borussia Dortmund, TSG 1899 Hoffenheim and Bayer Leverkusen respectively, the cutting back has been swift. But the sale of homegrown star Oliver Sorg will be a painful wound to heal.
It would have been helped to see the club spend some of the £18m brought in through departures spent, but Nils Petersen from Werder Bremen for £1.9m is the only signing that shows that Freiburg are ready to compete again. The former Bayern Munich man scored nine goals in 12 appearances during a successful loan spell last time out.
Nürnberg keen to improve on average return to the second division
Nürnberg will know all about that themselves; after relegation in 2013/14, the club finished ninth last time out as the reality of 2. Bundesliga football set in. But der Altmeister will be hoping to go further and reach the top flight again.
Finishing 13 points off the playoff spots last time out is emphasised by the fact that René Weiler, who replaced Valérien Ismaël in November, overseen a very poor away record, winning just four of their 17 games away from the Frankenstadion. Jakub Sylvestr top scored with just nine goals last time out, so der Club have a wide scope for improvement this season.
With the aforementioned quartet departing Schwarzwald Stadion this summer, a lot of pressure will be placed on Petersen’s shoulders to fire the club back to the Bundesliga. But after Bürki recorded nine clean sheets last season, whoever replaces the Swiss international has big shoes to fill.
Stark a shining light heading into the new season
For Nürnberg, Sylvestr will be relied upon to spearhead a promotion campaign, but a lot will be expected of their young midfield star Niklas Stark. Der Altmeister will be desperately hoping to keep hold of the 20-year-old, with interest from Werder Bremen said to be escalating.
Although Freiburg won both matches the last time the clubs met in 2013/14, with 3-2 and 3-0 victories, it is Nuremberg who have the better record over Freiburg at this level, winning the last eight 2. Bundesliga meetings - although the last came when the clubs were in the same division in 2009.
Freiburg will be buoyed that they go into the game virtually at full strength, whereas the away side will be hoping Niclas Füllkrug will return after he missed the club's last twelve games with a knee injury.