Freiburg 2026/27 season preview: Can Julian Schuster and Co. improve on record-breaking 2025/26?
Freiburg enjoyed a fantastic 2025/26 campaign, reaching the UEFA Europa League final while also qualifying for this term's UEFA Conference League. Julian Schuster has done a fantastic job of replacing Christian Streich since his arrival two years ago, but can he maintain that progress into a third campaign?
Freiburg
2025/26 finish: 7th
Pre-season results: 3-1 win vs. Derby County, 3-0 defeat vs. Greuther Fürth, 2-0 win vs. Racing Strasbourg, 3-0 win vs. Crystal Palace
First three fixtures: Werder Bremen (H), Paderborn (A), Borussia Mönchengladbach (H)
What to expect?
Streich had already established Freiburg as a top-half Bundesliga club, but under Schuster, the Black Forest outfit have shown they can mix it with some of Europe's biggest clubs while also maintaining their consistent Bundesliga form.
While they have lost a couple of important players in Johan Manzambi and Noah Atubolu during the off-season, they appear ready to attack the new term with the same vigour as previous campaigns. After racking up three wins from four warm-up matches, Freiburg hammered Fortuna Düsseldorf 5-1 in the first round of the DFB Cup and won both legs of their Conference League play-off tie against Motherwell to prevail 7-2 on aggregate - there appears to be no reason why Schuster and Co. can't improve on last term's seventh-place league finish.
Key new signing: Mio Backhaus
With Atubolu making it clear he wanted a new challenge before completing a move to Eintracht Frankfurt, Freiburg were left needing to fill a hole between the sticks. In Backhaus, they have acquired a more-than-worthy replacement who has brought the necessary calm and security as the last line of defence.
See all Freiburg's summer comings and goings here
The Germany U21 international did well during his maiden Bundesliga campaign last time out at Werder Bremen, making 32 appearances in the top flight and keeping five clean sheets. His arrival, coupled with the incomings of Rihito Yamamoto, Yannik Engelhardt and Keisuke Gotō, has once again underlined Freiburg's ability to find value in the transfer market.
Key player: Matthias Ginter
Ginter is Freiburg's undisputed leader at the heart of the back four, leading the way with confidence thanks to his wealth of experience. His omission from Germany's FIFA World Cup 2026 squad only appears to have spurred him on, bagging a brace in the first leg against Motherwell.
As illustrated by those strikes, he is far more than just a reliable ball-winner. He coordinates the entire backline, while he often sets up attacks thanks to his vision and composure when in possession. With him in the team and playing at his best, you would back Freiburg to be a match for anyone.
Check out Freiburg's new jerseys for 2026/27
Talking point
How do you replace Manzambi? The midfielder was last year's breakout Bundesliga star, playing an important role as Freiburg reached a maiden European final, and he further displayed his abilities throughout an eye-catching World Cup campaign. His move to Aston Villa has left a hole in Freiburg's midfield, and it will be interesting to see how the team deals with his departure.
It also remains to be seen what role Vincenzo Grifo plays this term. He has started just one of Freiburg's three competitive games this term and, at 33, he may need to be managed more carefully than in the past. Nevertheless, even as an impact option, his set-piece qualities and all-round creativity mean he still has plenty to offer.
Follow Freiburg's Bundesliga opener against Werder Bremen here!
