Werkself draw a blank at Freiburg

"We found it difficult to play our game. But the important thing is to keep another clean sheet. At the moment we find it really difficult to get going. We need to battle our way through step-by-step and that will only come through hard work," said Sven Bender. After the final whistle, Kevin Volland was only thinking of the next game: "We controlled the game for long periods and worked well against the ball. Now we have to win our next game against Hannover and then we'll be back on track." Rudi Völler, sporting managing director, came to the following conclusion: "We'd really like to have won but Freiburg sat back and did everything  to win a point."

Bayer 04 were forced to make an additional change away to Freiburg. Along with the absent players Retsos, Aránguiz, Baumgartlinger and Pohjanpalo due to injury plus Bellarabi, suspended for four games in the Bundesliga, Heiko Herrlich had to cope without his captain late on: Lars Bender was ruled out of the squad with a thigh injury. His place in holding midfield alongside Dominik Kohr was taken by central defender Aleksandar Dragovic. In contrast to Thursday's game against Larnaca, Jonathan Tah returned to the centre of the Werkself defence, with Julian Brandt and Lucas Alario coming into the starting line-up in place of Bellarabi and Leon Bailey.

"We've won four of the last five games and we want to add to that today,"  said Heiko Herrlich. Accordingly, Bayer 04 will fully focused ahead of the clash at the Schwarzwald Stadium. In the first attack, Kohr broke into the box from the right before his shot was deflected past the far post (3'). The Werkself dictated the opening stages of the game with the majority of possession. At the same time, the visitors looked to remain organised and did not allow themselves to be put off their stroke by the watchful Freiburg team. For the first half-hour, the action mainly took place between the two penalty areas.

Kevin Volland, captain of the side for this game, tried a long-range effort  but the ball went six feet wide of the target (27,). Kohr's next attempt two minutes later on the turn produced the same result. A Brandt free kick, which could have ended up in the top corner, was blocked by the wall (37'). The best chance came just before the break: Kai Havertz, despite being man-marked by Robin Koch, again and again made himself available all over the pitch and he was happy to receive and hold on to the ball, and he unleashed a shot on the turn on 43 minutes but his effort was inches wide of the upright. The two teams went into the half-time break with the scoreline at 0-0. 

After the break, with two new strikers on the pitch, Freiburg upped their attacking intentions. Wendell intervened at the right time to clear from Mike Frantz (47'). At the other end, Lucas Alario set up Brandt with a header but it took him by surprise (58'). Lukas Hradecky, untested at that point, was comfortably able to cope with a weak effort from Lucas Kübler on 62 minutes. Shortly after that, the Finland goalkeeper kicked the ball high up the pitch to put Alario in with a chance to finish in the opposition box but the Argentinian was unable to control the ball (69'). Leon Bailey then replaced Brandt after his last action with a cross failed to find a team-mate (71').

Christian Günter posed a threat for the hosts but his volley flew over the bar (73'). The game now developed into an intense struggle for territory as both sides attempted to wear each other down. In the closing stages, Herrlich brought on his last two attacking subs with Kiese Thelin and Paulinho replacing Kohr and Volland (83'). Freiburg almost landed a lucky blow but Waldschmidt only succeeded in hitting the post on 90 minutes with Hradecky looking on. Then came the final whistle with no goals and no winners at the Schwarzwald Stadium.

Now comes the international break with Bayer 04 facing a more relaxed few days. The Werkself are back in action on Saturday 20 October with a 15.30 CET kick-off at the BayArena against Hannover 96.

Match stats:

SC Freiburg: Schwolow – Kübler, Gulde (Waldschmidt 46'), Heintz, Günter – Koch, Höfler – Frantz (Höler 89'), Gondorf, Sallai – Niederlechner (Haberer 38')

Bayer 04: Hradecky – Weiser, Tah, S. Bender, Wendell – Kohr (Kiese Thelin 83'), Dragovic – Brandt (Bailey 71'), Havertz, Volland (Paulinho 83') – Alario

Goals: 

Referee: Bastian Dankert (Rostock)

Booked: Kübler, Höfler, Günter – Kohr

Attendance: 23,800