Eight games, one goal: FC Bayern start the end-of-year run-in with a home game against Freiburg

With the last international break of the year done and dusted, FC Bayern get back to Bundesliga action by hosting SC Freiburg at the Allianz Arena on Saturday (live coverage with our text commentary and free web radio on fcbayern.comand in the FC Bayern app from 15.30 CET). Here’s all you need to know ahead of the game in our preview.

Check out the photos from the final training session on Friday:

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The home game against Freiburg marks the start of the end-of-year run-in, which will see FC Bayern play eight games in 30 days before the winter break. The record champions head into the business end of the Hinrunde before Christmas with an almost flawless record of 16 wins and just a single point dropped in the 2-2 draw at Union Berlin this season. For Vincent Kompany, however, that's no reason to sit back and take it easy, but rather a reason to set new goals. "We didn't win the last game, so it doesn't feel like a perfect season," explained the head coach. In any case, it's important to show top performances in the decisive phases of the season. Whatever's happened before then is a “bonus”, said the head coach, which is why his team's current form gives him a special incentive. "If the performances are already this good, it’s not an easy task, but we still want to be even stronger at the end of the season than we are now."

The facts on the clash with Freiburg:

The aim is to take the first step in that direction against Freiburg on Saturday - opponents who could prove to be as awkward for the Munich men as Union Berlin were recently. Last season, Bayern managed just 12 shots at home against the defensively compact Baden side, a negative record in the Kompany era. Nevertheless, Christoph Freund sees no parallels here. "Union is always a special game away from home, now we're playing at home," said the sporting director. "Freiburg are very consistent and are doing well. We're looking forward to the game, but you can't compare the two."

Read the key statements from the press conference here:

The opponents: SC Freiburg

Opponents Freiburg got a confidence boost for their visit to Munich before the international break. Following the 2-0 defeat at Bayer 04 Leverkusen, the team from Baden have won three and drawn one of their last four competitive matches. In particular, the recent 2-1 win against FC St. Pauli in the Bundesliga will have been reassuring for the Europa League participants, who finished fifth last year, as they'd been unable to really get out of the lower regions of the table after a botched start to the season and a host of draws. Being involved in three competitions is not a common occurrence for Freiburg, which is why Julian Schuster's side seemed to have lost a little of the energy of last season in the domestic league. It's why the international break came at just the right time for the coach, as it gave him more time to prepare his players for the upcoming match: "As nice as it is to be able to play in Europe, what I really miss are training sessions and not being able to work in detail. You need repetition for that," lamented Schuster.

We take a look at the upcoming opponents in our analysis:

So far, however, even the best preparation has not helped Freiburg to come away from the Allianz Arena with anything worthwhile. SCF have not won a single one of their 25 visits to FC Bayern in the Bundesliga and have only managed to pick up a point on three occasions. And yet Schuster believes he has a chance in Freiburg's 26th attempt in Munich. "There are opportunities against Bayern, as Union and, at times, Köln showed in the cup. We'll have to find a good mix: At times we'll have to be awkward and aggressive, but in the next moment we'll have to be creative again and show a certain courage," demanded the 40-year-old.

Team news

After breaking his metatarsal at the end of March, Hiroki Ito could be back in the squad for the game against Freiburg. However, Serge Gnabry, who returned from international duty with an injury, is likely to be out. There's also still a question mark over Manuel Neuer's participation after the captain struggled with an infection during the week. Alphonso Davies, who is already able to complete parts of team training again after tearing his cruciate ligament, and Jamal Musiala (ankle dislocation and fracture of the fibula) are certain to miss out.

Freiburg can draw on pretty much a full complement of players. In addition to Daniel-Kofi Kyereh (cruciate ligament rupture), only new signing Cyriaque Irié will not be available in Munich as he's not yet at 100 per cent following a malaria infection.

What the coaches say

Test your knowledge of the upcoming Bundesliga clash in our matchday quiz: