Bundesliga: Freiburg also defeated Bayer and crowned outstanding first half of the season

Enlarge image

Freiburg and Leverkusen scramble for the Champions League places

Photo: RONALD WITTEK / EPA

SC Freiburg has refined its impressive first half of the season with a win over Bayer Leverkusen.

Coach Christian Streich's team won 2: 1 (1: 1) with a late goal from substitute Kevin Schade and moved up to third place in the table - the place that Bayer had previously held.

The start of the game clearly belonged to the hosts: Freiburg had two top-class chances after just three minutes, which Bayer goalkeeper Lukáš Hrádecký destroyed.

In the period that followed, Christian Streich's team set the tone, Bayer was much too cautious after two games without a win, and the absence of Moussa Diaby and Karim Bellarabi was clearly noticeable on the offensive.

The Freiburg leadership was logical, even if it came about through a penalty.

Bayer defender Jeremie Frimpong jumped the ball in the penalty area on the outstretched arm.

Vincenzo Grifo converted the penalty kick in the 33rd minute with a casual lob to make it 1-0.

Only then did Bayer become more dangerous, but the equalization with the half-time whistle was surprising.

After a corner kick, Jonathan Tah artistically pushed the ball into the center of the box, where Charles Aranguiz headed free-standing to make it 1-1.

After the break, the game flattened out significantly.

A lot of midfield, few chances to score.

The guests were now more active, but they also produced little goal danger.

At the end of the year, both seemed to be satisfied with a point-sharing and rather to want to prepare for Christmas.

Then Streich brought Schade as an invigorating element, and its inclusion paid off immediately: In the 82nd minute he switched the fastest and pushed the Balll past the perplexed Hradecky into the goal.

Aha