Werkself draw 1-1 in Freiburg

Compared with the Europa League match at AS Monaco (5-3 win on penalties) head coach Xabi Alonso made four changes to the starting line-up: In a 3-4-2-1 formation, Odilon Kossounou replaced the suspended Jonathan Tah in defence. Defender Piero Hincapie (one-match ban) plus Amine Adli (one-match ban) were unavailable for the match in the Breisgau. Kerem Demirbay started in midfield. Moussa Diaby returned to the attack after recovering from a slight muscle injury with Sardar Azmoun also starting. Florian Wirtz began the game on the bench.

Grifo scores

The game was evenly balanced at the start with the weather changing between snow and sunshine. The hosts had their first chance after three minutes: Following a misunderstanding between Demirbay and Exequiel Palacios, the ball ended up with Freiburg's Lucas Höler who hit the side netting with a shot from a tight angle. The first impressive move for the visitors came from the recovered Diaby on 12 minutes: After taking possession, the Frenchman set off on a sprint but he missed the chance to finish.

At the other end, Grifo hit a low drive from distance but his effort went just past the net (17'). A first warning shot that was followed by a productive free kick: Again it was the Italian who curled the ball round the wall and into the net with the help of the inside of the post past Lukas Hradecky to give Freiburg the lead.

The Alonso team responded and pressed forward in the following minutes in search of an equaliser with big chances for Diaby, who missed the ball in front of goal, Demirbay from long range (39') plus Jeremie Frimpong with a header from a cross by fellow countrymen Mitchel Bakker (40'). The Werkself created more chances but were unable to convert their goalscoring opportunities. Bayer 04 went into half-time 1-0 down thanks the sixteenth goal from a set piece from the hosts this term.

Azmoun levels

After the restart, Leverkusen were increasingly able to threaten the Freiburg goal but initially unable to create clear-cut chances. The long overdue equaliser finally came on 67 minutes: The impressive Bakker hit the ball with the outside of his foot into the penalty area towards the far post where Azmoun volleyed the ball across the Freiburg keeper Mark Flekken to level at 1-1. 

The team under head coach Christian Streich looked to restore their lead and it was another free kick from Grifo that led to danger in the Werkself penalty area: Hradecky made an impressive save to deny Matthias Ginter's effort with the ball rebounding to Philipp Lienhart who headed against the post. And a follow-up shot from Höler also went just wide of the Werkself goal (71').

The Werkself looked more determined to net the winner after that. Palacios had the best chance with a rifled shot from distance but the Freiburg keeper was able to make an impressive save (76'). Substitute Patrik Schick hit the post in added time with Demirbay just putting the rebound wide as he looked to score a last-minute winner. The Werkself and the Streich team shared the points at the Europa Park Stadium in a 1-1 draw.

Hertha at the Bayarena

The Werkself return to Leverkusen today. Lukas Hradecky and Co. will train every day this week with the exception of Tuesday. The sessions on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday on training pitches one and two will be open to fans. The Black and Reds entertain Hertha Berlin at the BayArena next Sunday 5 March on Bundesliga matchday 23. The kick-off is at 15.30 CET.

Match stats:

SC Freiburg: Flekken – Sildillia, Ginter, Lienhart, Kübler – Eggestein, Höfler – Doan (Sallai 25'), Höler, Grifo (Woo-Yeong 83') – Gregoritsch (Petersen 83' )

Bayer 04: Hradecky – Kossounou, Andrich, Tapsoba – Frimpong, Demirbay, Palacios, Bakker – Diaby (Schick 66'), Hlozek (Wirtz 46’) – Azmoun (Amiri 86’)

Goals: 1-0 Grifo (29’), 1-1 Azmoun (67’)

Booked: Sallai, Gregoritsch – Demirbay

Referee: Daniel Siebert (Berlin)

Attendance: 34,000 at the Europa Park Stadium