Kerem Demirbay also founded it incredible that the Werkself failed to take all three points: “I don’t know how I should put it: We completely outplayed Freiburg and it’s crazy that the opposition were able to get a result here. Two points definitely dropped.”
Peter Bosz made just one change to the starting line-up from the game against VfL Wolfsburg: Moussa Diaby replaced the injured Kai Havertz. It was the first start in a Bayer 04 shirt for the 20-year-old Frenchman. Four other Werkself players were sidelined in addition to Havertz: Joel Pohjanpalo (ankle), Daley Sinkgraven (rehab), Leon Bailey (suspended) – and also Julian Baumgartlinger who dropped out late with a muscle problem. Skipper Lars Bender started on the bench.
It was clear before the game that the Red and Blacks could expect tough resistance from SC Freiburg: Anyone who can beat RB Leipzig, Eintracht Frankfurt and Hoffenheim, take a point against Borussia Dortmund and also has the second best defence in the Bundesliga with just 12 goals conceded, can expect to get a result at the BayArena. The match came alive from the kick-off. It only took the Werkself 33 seconds to put the opposition defence under pressure: A shot from Kevin Volland from a Diaby cross was blocked by a Freiburg defender. That was followed by a curious incident: The Freiburg keeper Flekken slipped as he took a goal kick touching the ball and then he had to clear as Nadiem Amiri closed in. An indirect free kick was awarded to Bayer 04 nine yards out. Demirbay shot at goal but his effort was deflected onto the bar by Nicolas Höfler and Bellarabi hit the rebound over the target – it could have been the opener for Bayer 04 (3’).
Freiburg take lead from set piece
The first goal was scored at the other end. A Christian Günter corner from the right saw Höler shake off Aránguiz at the far post and he was able beat the stranded Lukas Hradecky with a header to give Freiburg the lead on five minutes. Bayer 04 conceded against SCF for the first time in five games between the two sides. The hosts were able to recover from the setback quickly. It was great the way Diaby beat two Freiburg players on the left flank, raced through to the byline and whipped in a cross that was almost turned into his own net by Dominique Heintz (16’).
Mitchell Weiser’s game then ended early when he injured his ankle in a challenge with Günter and he had to be helped off the pitch. Lars Bender came on at right back on 26 minutes. Just before that, Bellarabi fired in a shot at the near post but Flekken was able to make the save (24’). Freiburg’s keeper stood out again as Amiri put Diaby through with an excellent pass with Flekken skillfully narrowing the angle to deny the Frenchman (28’). Soon after that, Amiri (31’) and Diaby (33’) both missed the target from the edge of the box.
Diaby’s impressive debut
The BayArena was finally able to celebrate: Diaby controlled the ball well from a Demirbay pass and he found the space to score a deserved equaliser with a low drive into the corner of the net from 20 yards out (36’) – it was the first Bundesliga goal for the 20-year-old winger. Bayer 04 kept up the pressure: Bellarabi fired in a shot that Flekken was able to punch clear (40’). An effort from Charles Aránguiz flew just over the bar (42’). Diaby, a constant source of inspiration, then broke down the left but his cross failed to find in Kevin Volland in the middle (43’). Volland slipped in a promising position as the ball skimmed off his head (45+1’) and Bellarabi then hit the post (45+2’). Freiburg were on the ropes – and were lucky to be level at the break as the stats reveal. Bayer 04 had 15 shots on goal and 80 per cent possession.
Great chance for Volland
It was one-way traffic again after the restart with tempo unchanged. Freiburg were lucky that Robin Koch was able to get a toe to the ball to dispossess Diaby on the edge of the box (47’). And Flekken pulled off an incredible save to deny Volland from close range after a fine cross from Bellarabi (50’) – it should have been 2-1 to the Werkself. Volland let Bellarabi’s next cross go through but Amiri’s shot was blocked (56’). Diaby lacked the power and concentration with a shot after a long run (61’).
Brace eludes Diaby
Demirbay found Bellarabi, he passed to Amiri but the ball to Volland, right in front of the target, was hit wide of the target – another lack of accuracy (64’). Then the game really took off: Freiburg broke through on goal, Lukas Hradecky saved a shot from Höler with his foot and Jonathan Schmid hit the rebound just past the post (67’). The BayArena crowd was ready to celebrate as Diaby rounded Flekken but he slipped and his shot from a prone position missed the empty Freiburg goal (68’) – unbelievable!
Peter Bosz brought on Lucas Alario in place of Volland (74’). A shot from Demirbay was hit straight at Flekken (76’) as was the next effort that also failed to trouble the SCF keeper (82’). Then came the next great chance: Diaby again broke through down the left and crossed into the box but Bellarabi was unable to convert from close range (87’). The BayArena was filled with ground and sighs. Paulinho replaced Amiri (89’). Three minutes of added time – but there was no happy ending for the Werkself.
Bayer 04 face some challenging games in a three-day rhythm. Tuesday 26 November brings an incredibly important match in the Champions League at Lokomotiv Moscow (kick-off: 18.55 CET) and that is followed by the clash away to record champions Bayern Munich on Saturday 30 November at 18.30 CET. Sven Bender calls it a “cracking programme”.
Match stats:
Bayer 04: Hradecky – Weiser (L. Bender 26’), Tah, S. Bender, Wendell – Aránguiz, Demirbay – Bellarabi, Amiri (Paulinho 89’), Diaby – Volland (Alario 74’)
SC Freiburg: Flekken – Lienhart, Koch, Heintz – Schmid, Haberer, Höfler, Günter – Borrello (Sallai 57’), Höler (90 +1’ Frantz) – Petersen (90 +3’ Schlotterbeck)
Goals: 0-1 Höler (5’), 1-1 Diaby (36’)
Referee: Deniz Aytekin (Oberasbach)
Booked: Lienhart, Schmid, Höler
Attendance: 29,032
