Overview
- Coach Julian Schuster confirmed Max Rosenfelder sustained a thigh muscle fiber tear at Heidenheim and will miss Salzburg plus the remaining Bundesliga games of the year against Borussia Dortmund and VfL Wolfsburg.
- Philipp Lienhart is expected to be available to partner ever-present Matthias Ginter in central defense after recent groin issues forced his substitution at Heidenheim.
- Freiburg enter the Europa League home fixture unbeaten and sit fourth in the league-phase table with 11 points, one behind leaders Lyon.
- Under the new format, places 1–8 advance directly to the round of 16, while ranks 9–24 go to the playoffs, and a victory over Salzburg could already secure at least the playoff spot.
- Sportschau reports Salzburg are 29th with three points from five matches, leaving the Austrian champions with little margin to keep their playoff hopes alive.