Werkself review #SCFB04: Strong response but disappointed

SUMMARY: ACTION-PACKED ENCOUNTER

Bayer 04 started the match at the Europa Park Stadium in a confident and dominant manner, but then fell behind when Vincenzo Grifo scored (34'). However, the Werkself struck back promptly and levelled with a precise finish from Christian Kofane (37'). That was the prelude to hectic minutes: Firstly, Freiburg regained the lead through Yuito Suzuki (43’) after an excellent move at pace, before Alejandro Grimaldo beautifully tucked a free-kick into the net to make it 2-2 (45+3’). In a fast-paced encounter, Leverkusen opened the second half with a strike from Martin Terrier with an assist from Kofane (52') to take the lead at 3-2. Kofane then missed the chance to net the fourth goal just two minutes later with a header from close range. SCF pressed hard in the final stages of the game and equalised through a Matthias Ginter diving header (86'). HERE is the match report.

REACTION: "WANTED MORE THAN ONE POINT"

Kasper Hjulmand summed the game at the post-match press conference: "It was a good game for the fans, but for me as a coach there was too much turmoil. We started very well and then showed a strong mental reaction after going behind twice. We started well again in the second half and had good control. After the 3-2 goal, Kofane had a great chance to score a fourth. We had to defend hard in the final phase. We're disappointed with the result, but Freiburg also did very well."

Alejandro Grimaldo was also unable to take much pleasure from the result. "We wanted more than a point, but we have to move on. We got tired in the last 15 or 20 minutes, it was a difficult game," said the Spaniard. Christian Kofane, meanwhile, shed light on his precise and delicate goal to make it 1-1: "It's also a matter of training, I work on my finishing every day. After Martin's pass, I just knew how to put the ball in the net."

WHAT THE PAPERS SAY: "FRENETIC FOOTBALL FIREWORKS"

The Rheinische Post reported an "intense exchange of blows" and emphasised the high entertainment value of the match. The Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung had a similar assessment, describing it as a "spectacular exchange of blows". Bild am Sonntag spoke of "frenetic football fireworks". The Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger gave three Bayer 04 players top marks: Ibrahim Maza ("Midfield maestro again and a constant source of danger"), Martin Terrier ("To be found everywhere up front, made himself available, dropped back, helped out defensively") and Christian Kofane ("Played with lots of self-confidence, great low shot to make it 1-1").

PERSONNEL: KOFANE RUN, OERMANN DEBUT

Christian Kofane continued his run of recent games in Freiburg: He set up the goal against Mainz, scored the winner in Hamburg and now scored and provide an assist in Freiburg. The 19-year-old Cameroonian now has eight goal involvements this term (five goals, three assists) - since data collection began in 2004/05, only four Leverkusen teenagers have had more goal involvements in a Bundesliga season: Toni Kroos, Kai Havertz, Julian Brandt and Florian Wirtz. Like Kofane, Martin Terrier also scored and provided an assist in a Bundesliga match for the first time.

Alejandro Grimaldo was yellow-carded for the fifth time this season shortly after the break and will therefore miss the home game against Bayern Munich on Saturday. There were also two debuts at Europa Park Stadium: Tim Oermann , who came on in the 82nd minute for Ernest Poku , made his first appearance for the Black and Reds, while the U19 player Emmanuel Chigozie Owen was in the Bayer 04 matchday squad for the first time.

STATS: GRIMALDO EUROPE'S FREE-KICK KING

With his magical free-kick, Grimaldo once again proved himself to be a master of the set-piece. The left-footer has now scored six goals from free-kicks since the start of the 2023/24 season, the highest figure in Europe's top five leagues. The fastest player on Saturday in Freiburg was Christian Kofane at 34.77 km/h. The team stats in terms of possession (52 to 48 per cent for Freiburg) and pass completion (88 per cent for both teams) illustrate just how close and evenly matched the game was.

NEXT UP: ARSENAL THEN FC BAYERN

There is no time to rest for Bayer 04 as the next sporting challenges continue in quick succession. On Wednesday, 11 March (kick-off: 18:45 CET), the Werkself welcome Arsenal for the first leg of the Round of 16 tie in the UEFA Champions League. In the Bundesliga, a game at the BayArena follows on Saturday, 14 March, at 15:30 CET against Bayern Munich.