Bayer Leverkusen, with an outstanding Florian Wirtz, really played dizzy against SC Freiburg in the Bundesliga. But the result does not reflect the superiority of the Rhinelanders. Leverkusen defeated Breisgau 2-1 (1-0) on Sunday evening (October 29, 2023).
The outstanding player on the pitch was Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz, who shot the hosts into the lead with a fine individual performance (36th minute). The national player was also involved in the second goal when he replaced Jonas Hofmann, who increased the score with a long-range shot and a bit of luck (60′). Manuel Gulde made the connection (75th), but there was no more for Freiburg.
With the win, Leverkusen regained the lead in the table, while Freiburg remained in eighth place in the table. “We had patience, we had control, we defended well after losing the ball”said Leverkusen coach Xavi Alonso at the Sportschau microphone after the game.
He said about Wirtz: “This is a special player, a great talent. Not many people can do what he did.” Alonso’s Freiburg colleague Christian Streich said: “Leverkusen were highly superior, but they didn’t have many great chances to score. That’s what our team did so well. Leverkusen’s first goal was world-class.”
Bayer are overwhelmingly superior
The first period of the game should actually have produced a much clearer result in favor of the Werkself: 75 percent ball possession, total control of the game and a surprisingly passive opponent led to far too few chances to score. Wirtz was particularly fond of playing. In this respect, Freiburg’s defense had to be given credit for not showing a very clear deficit on the BayArena scoreboard at half-time.
Exequiel Palacios tried a shot (19th), Boniface headed (21st) and shot (28th) – all without success. The SCF rarely dared to attack, Lucas Höler (27th) and Merlin Röhl (45th + 1) had the only two shots in the first half, both times Lukáš Hrádecký parried without any major problems.
Leverkusen’s Wirtz dribbles dizzyingly over Freiburger
When Wirtz had really worked himself into a bit of a frenzy, things became particularly unpleasant for Nicolas Höfler – vertigo wasn’t ruled out: the Leverkusen youngster accepted a pass from Frimpong on the right in the penalty area, dribbled, turned, hit one hook after the other. Always on his heels: Höfler. But the third hook was one too many and the Freiburg player slipped. Wirtz took two steps towards the goal from a tight angle and then took a powerful shot: Noah Atubolu in the visitors’ box had no chance.
Freiburg coach Streich admitted: “You can’t defend Florian Wirtz.“What was going through his head when the national player’s magical dribble before the 1-0 lead? “We should be happy that not everyone is in England, that they aren’t buying us all away” said Streich.
With the second goal, Freiburg’s keeper Atubolu again had no chance of intervening – and yet he scored it, so to speak: Initiated by Wirtz, Hofmann shot from a good 20 meters from a central position against Freiburg who had advanced. The ball crashed into the left post – Atubolu stretched in vain – but the ball bounced off the aluminum to the Freiburg goalkeeper and rolled from there into the goal.
Leverkusen continues to press – and Freiburg scores
Leverkusen didn’t want to be satisfied with two goals: Once again it was the extremely strong Wirtz who this time served Jeremie Frimpong on the left. Frimpong moved into the penalty area, but his shot when under pressure hit the outside post.
Suddenly it was only 2:1. Freiburg managed to free itself more and more during the second half of the game. After a free kick from near the left corner flag, Vincenzo Grifo crossed into the center of the attack, where Gulde ran into perfect position and powerfully headed the ball into the goal from a very short distance.
Freiburg is coming back
And suddenly Freiburg had the wind at their back: Kiliann Sildillia pulled away and forced Hrádecký to make a save (74′). But in return, Bayer almost put the famous lid on the game: keeper Atubolu deflected a shot from Florian Wirtz over the crossbar with his fingertips.
And Leverkusen felt that they had to invest a little more in order not to jeopardize the victory that they believed was so certain in the first half. Who else other than Wirtz served Palacios, but his shot went clearly wide. Gregoritsch for Freiburg also took a shot from the penalty spot, but had just as little luck with the shot as the Argentinian on the other side.
The Breisgauers were unable to convert a corner three minutes before the official end of the game into a scoring opportunity. Freiburg’s coach Christian Streich picked up a yellow card for complaining, but in the end Bayer Leverkusen barely saved a victory that was believed to be certain.
Bayer in Hoffenheim, Freiburg welcomes Gladbach
Next matchday, Leverkusen will face TSG Hoffenheim (Saturday, November 4th, 2023 at 3:30 p.m.). The Breisgauers are hosting Borussia Mönchengladbach at the same time.