Bundesliga season preview: SC Freiburg
With not long until the 2016/17 Bundesliga season gets under way in earnest, it is high time to put each club's upcoming campaign under the microscope. Accordingly, bundesliga.com's previews will provide you with all you need to know ahead of the big kick-off on 26 August…
Big question
Next up are SC Freiburg...
The main question for Freiburg ahead of this season is whether they can stay up. Relegated on the final day in 2014/15, the Black Forest outfit bounced back to the big time in fine style by winning the second division title last season – scoring the most goals (75) in Bundesliga 2 in the process.
Watch: check out how Freiburg sealed an instant return to the Bundesliga
In charge at Freiburg since 2011, Christian Streich – who led the club to a fifth-place finish in 2012/13 and the UEFA Europa League – is certainly the right man to mastermind a survival bid, but whether the same core of players that went down two campaigns ago can avoid a prolonged relegation battle remains to be seen.
New faces
Coach
Key man
Pre-season form
Most recent first: DWWWWWW
Key dates
Freiburg kick off their campaign in the capital against Hertha Berlin on Matchday 1. Streich's side then welcome Borussia Mönchengladbach on Matchday 2, but face tough trips to Borussia Dortmund on Matchday 5 and Bayer 04 Leverkusen on Matchday 13.
Click here to see Freiburg's full schedule
Home ground
One of the smallest Bundesliga stadiums, the Schwarzwald-Stadion can fit in 24,000 supporters.