Freiburg and FC Cologne will be pushing for the victory when they face off this Sunday, December 17th. Hosted at the prestigious Europa-Park Stadion in Freiburg im Breisgau, they will take the pitch at 14:30 (UTC). With the sun shining and the temperature a pleasant 44 degrees Fahrenheit, it promises to be a great day of Bundesliga action. This game has added importance as FC Cologne are looking to avenge their 0-1 defeat to Freiburg on April 29th.

Freiburg have had a good run of form, with three victories in their last five matches. Scoring nine goals in the same period, the team have been increasingly prolific in front of goal. Crucially, they'll be missing four key players in C. Günter, D. Kyereh, Y. Keitel, and M. Philipp due to injury. Currently in eighth position, Freiburg have earned 21 points in 14 games, consisting of six wins, three draws, and five losses. M.Gregoritsch impressed on their last home fixture against Olympiakos with an incredible three goals. Such a thrilling 5 - 5 draw could set the precedent for another exciting display in the upcoming match.

FC Cologne have been in outstanding form, winning two of their last five matches. During these fixtures, the team have seen a respectable flow of goals, registering ten across the five games. However, their last meeting ended in 0-0 draw against Mainz in the Bundesliga, highlighting their defensive prowess. Against similarly ranked teams this season, FC Cologne have won 1, drawn 2 and lost 0, scoring an average of 0.6666666666666666 goals and conceding 0.3333333333333333. Their impressive defensive performances are owed in part to the leadership of goalkeeper M. Schwäbe, who has unsurprisingly maintained two clean sheets recently - with a grand total of 7 clean sheets across their 23 games in all competitions. With such form, FC Cologne will look to continue their strong run of form in the upcoming match.

The next installment of the Freiburg vs. Cologne rivalry promises to deliver a classic match-up of two storied football clubs. Both teams boast a remarkable record in the 41 total matchups, with Freiburg sitting at 20 wins and 7 draws, followed by Cologne with 14 wins. Statistically speaking, the previous 8 matches have seen an average total of 2.88 goals scored, making this upcoming battle one to watch.

A win for Freiburg would put them in a Promotion-Europa Conference League (Qualification: ) position, setting the stage for an exciting next season. This gives the home side a tremendous incentive to rise to the challenge and better their current standing. With this crucial victory within reach, Freiburg now has the opportunity to make a lasting impact on their future success.