Head coach Xabi Alonso made five changes from the line-up for the 5-1 victory over Qarabag in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday: Werkself captain Lukas Hradecky returned in goal in place of Matej Kovar with Jonathan Tah, Exequiel Palacios, Jeremie Frimpong and Jonas Hofmann coming back in for Piero Hincapie, Robert Andrich, Nathan Tella and Amine Adli. In front of another full house at the BayArena, the Werkself first threatened the Freiburg goal on 50 seconds but Granit Xhaka slightly mishit his long-range shot from 30 metres out. The Black and Reds pressed forward from the start pushing the visitors far back into their own half. SCF were primarily involved in defending and only had their first effort on goal on 27 minutes.
In spite of their clear superiority, the Werkself found it difficult to create clear-cut chances. The hosts did control proceedings but the Black and Reds initially found it difficult to crack the solid Freiburg defence – until the 36th minute. Florian Wirtz dribbled through the opposition penalty area and slotted the ball into the back of the net at the far corner from a tight angle for a deserved 1-0 lead. That was also the scoreline at the end of an otherwise uneventful first half.
There were no changes at half-time and the Black and Reds had a good early chance in the second 45: Wirtz intercepted a pass from Freiburg's Nicolas Höfler and set off for the opposition goal but his effort was saved by the SCF keeper Noah Atubolu (50’).
The Werkself continued to dominate and scored the next goal on the hour mark: On the edge of the penalty area, Hofmann received the ball after a solo run by Wirtz and his shot first hit the left upright and then the back of the keeper Atubolu – before finally ending up in the back of the net (60'). Shortly after that, Frimpong had the chance to seal the win but the effort from the Dutchman hit the woodwork (66'). The visitors then had their first chance in the second half – and that provided SCF with the chance to get back in the game. Substitute Manuel Gulde scored with a header from a corner to make it 2-1 (70'). Freiburg were then more adventurous and went on the front foot. Hradecky and Co. remained on their toes to deny isolated efforts from the visitors with the result that the Werkself secured a deserved 2-1 victory. The Black and Reds remain top of the Bundesliga and unbeaten across all competitions.
The games come thick and fast for the Werkself: the Black and Reds play third division SSV Sandhausen in the second round of the DFB Pokal on Wednesday 1 November (kick-off: 18.00 CET). That is followed three days later by the next fixture on the road: Leverkusen are away to TSG Hoffenheim on Saturday 4 November (kick-off: 15.30 CET) on Bundesliga matchday ten.
Match stats:
Bayer 04: Hradecky – Kossounou, Tah, Tapsoba – Frimpong (Tella 86’), Palacios, Xhaka, Grimaldo (Hincapie 90’) – Hofmann (Adli 86’), Boniface (Schick 90’), Wirtz (Hlozek 90’)
SC Freiburg: Atubolu - Sildillia, Ginter, Lienhart (Gulde 67’), Kübler - Höfler - Doan, Eggestein (Gregoritsch 67’), Röhl (Adamu 81’), Grifo (Weißhaupt 81’) - Höler
Goals: 1-0 Wirtz (36’), 2-0 Hofmann (60’), 2-1 Gulde (70’)
Booked: Kübler, Streich (SC Freiburg head coach), Höler
Referee: Daniel Siebert (Berlin)
Attendance: 30,210 (sell-out) at the BayArena
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