Bayer Leverkusen secured an easy win against SC Freiburg in the Bundesliga and thus rehabilitated themselves for the defeat against Paris in the Champions League.
In the 2-0 win in front of 30,210 spectators, Ernest Poku (22nd) and Edmond Tapsoba (52nd) scored the goals for the home team, who had recently lost 7-2 in the premier class against Paris Saint-Germain. In the 74th minute, Freiburg’s Philipp Lienhart had to leave the field with a yellow-red card.
With the win, Leverkusen climbed to fourth place with 17 points. Coach Kasper Hjulmand’s team is now unbeaten seven times in a row in the league.
Freiburg remains with nine points and slipped to eleventh place in the table. For coach Julian Schuster and his team, after five games without defeat in the league, there was another defeat. Most recently in the Europa League, Freiburg won 2-0 against Utrecht.
Schuster mourns the chances, Hjulmand is satisfied
“We didn’t take advantage of the opportunities we had in the first half. We left them behind. Then we didn’t defend well enough when we conceded goals. So the bottom line is that it’s a deserved defeat.”said Freiburg coach Julian Schuster at the Sportschau microphone.
Sports show, October 26, 2025 4:58 p.m
Sports show, October 26, 2025 4:58 p.m
His Leverkusen colleague Hjulmand explained: “We didn’t start the game well, but then we got better and better and had dominance and control.” His team wanted to show a reaction and it worked: “The team played a good game and showed what they can do.”
Freiburg got off to a better start
Freiburg started more agile. In the second minute, Derry Scherhant tested goalkeeper Mark Flekken with a powerful shot, who was just able to direct the ball around the post. A little later, Flekken was involved in Ezequiel Fernández’s build-up play after a bad pass called for again and parried a shot from Junior Adamu. At the beginning, Leverkusen found it extremely difficult both defensively and offensively against Freiburg’s high-pressing team.
Leverkusen turns up and scores
But the Werkself found their way into the game. The first good chance, however, resulted from a free kick that Alex Grimaldo took directly on goal and Noah Atubolu forced his first save in the Freiburg box.
The Leverkusen team then stepped on the gas, so the lead came as no surprise. Edmond Tapsoba won the ball against Adamu on the halfway line – and then things happened very quickly. Taposoba sent Poku steeply and he completed a nice one-two with Aleix García to make it 1-0. Freiburg’s protests that Tapsoba had played the ball with his hand were ignored by the VAR and referee Harm Osmers.
Freiburg is only dangerous when it comes to set pieces
The ball was now running for Leverkusen and Freiburg were chasing after it. But the SC remained dangerous, especially when it came to set pieces. In the 39th minute, the SC fans would have liked Vincenzo Grifo on the pitch. But when there was a free kick from 20 meters from a central position, he was just sitting on the bench. Scherhant put the ball just next to the post. Shortly before the break there was another free kick for Freiburg – this time from the left side. Scherhant pulled the ball directly towards the goal, but also over the crossbar. That was it in the first half.
Leverkusen starts the second half
Leverkusen got off to a better start in the second half and the team came out of the locker room full of steam. After a nice combination, Aleix Garcia shot, but just missed the box. And the Werkself stayed in control. The 2-0 was almost inevitable. After a short corner and a cross to the far post, Tapsoba rose highest and headed in. Shortly afterwards it was almost 3-0, but Poku failed to get past Flekken and Arthur put the second ball next to the goal. Aleix Garcia made the chance possible with a great pass to Poku. There were now chances every minute. A little later, Christian Kofane, after letting Lukas Kübler get out, put the ball just past the post.
Lienhart sees yellow-red
SC coach Schuster made changes, broke up the double six, played more offensively and brought in striker Igor Matanović. There was no doubt about Leverkusen’s home win. The home team was too dominant and confident on the ball. Schuster’s changes came to nothing, and by the time Lienhart had to leave the field with a yellow-red card in the 74th minute after repeated foul play, the game was over for Freiburg.
The rest of the game sputtered along. Leverkusen didn’t have to do anything more, Freiburg, being outnumbered, carried out damage limitation in a tightly staggered manner.
Leverkusen against Paderborn, Freiburg against Düsseldorf
Both teams are now challenged in the DFB Cup. Leverkusen plays in Paderborn early on Wednesday evening (6 p.m.). Freiburg also has to play in Düsseldorf on Wednesday evening (8:45 p.m.).
The league then continues on Saturday (6.30 p.m.) for Leverkusen at FC Bayern Munich, while Freiburg will play at Union Berlin (3.30 p.m.).