Bayer leaves behind the bad defeat with Wolfsburg and relaunches the assault on Leipzig and ‘Gladbach. In Freiburg he decides a ‘blow’ of the Havertz talent. The hosts of Freiburg have not demerited but for them the Europa League dream goes away.
FRIBURGO-BAYER LEVERKUSEN 0-1 (Highlights)
53′ Havertz
FREIBURG (3-4-3): Schwolow; Kubler (66′ Schmidt), Lienhart, Heintz; Sallai (66′ Gulde), Koch (75′ Frantz), Höfler, Günter; Grifo (75′ Chang Hoon), Petersen, Höler (75′ Waldschmidt). All. Streich
BAYER LEVERKUSEN (3-4-3): Hradecky; Tah, S. Bender, Dragovic; Amiri, Aranguiz, Baumgartlinger, Sinkgraven (61′ Alario); Havertz (66′ Diaby), Bailey (85′ Tapsoba), Wirtz (85′ Paulinho). All. Bosz
Ammonites: Alario (B), Amiri (B)
Complicated race for Bosz’s team that dominated the game but still appeared too weak and not very cynical in attack. The absence of Volland, added to that of Alario (both initially on the bench) did not guarantee the guests the depth necessary to concretize the amount of play produced. A hit by Havertz allows they to gain three precious points.
After the home defeat against Wolfsburg, Leverkusen’s response was predictable with pride. Obviously the consequences of 1-4 at home immediately made themselves felt and Bosz’s team was unable to give rhythm to the game despite a territorial domination supported by an impressive statistic in the first 15 ‘: 75% of possession.
On the other hand, Freiburg played the game as it had studied it: great compactness, narrow lines, rather low center of gravity to take advantage of all the spaces left by the opponents. A good number of corner kicks were collected on both sides from which however no dangers emerged.
In the second half, the start was for Freiburg, which tried to increase pressure and become dangerous in parts of Hradecky. Streich’s team acted with courage and was generous but as soon as he left some space he was punished: at 53 ‘Havertz woke up from the numbness that had grabbed him during the first half and taken from a great game that Bailey hit the ball just enough to fake Schwolow. After the goal, Freiburg, weakened in his soul, attempted a reaction but Bayer’s quality failed. Wirtz and Diaby tried again to end the game, but without great results. In the last quarter of an hour now the usual vortex of substitutions. Changes, especially for Freiburg, which have had no significant effects. Bayer won a painful victory and went up to 56 points in the standings, momentarily surpassing Gladbach and Leipzig. For Freiburg a defeat that drives away the dreams of the Europa League.