Bayer Leverkusen have won six in a row away from home in the Bundesliga
Bayer Leverkusen edged closer to the Bundesliga title after victory at Freiburg.
Florian Wirtz put Leverkusen in front after just two minutes but Ritsu Doan levelled for the hosts.
Adam Hlozek and Patrik Schick scored either side of half-time to give the league leaders a two-goal cushion, with Yannik Keitel claiming a consolation.
The victory kept Xabi Alonso’s side 10 points clear at the top of the table, with Freiburg in ninth.
Bayern Munich had closed the gap to seven points after beating rock-bottom Darmstadt 5-2 on Saturday, but Leverkusen showed no signs of pressure as they restored their healthy advantage.
Coming into this game, Freiburg and Leverkusen experienced contrasting emotions on Thursday in the last 16 of the Europa League.
West Ham ran out 5-0 winners against Freiburg to send them out of the competition, but Leverkusen reached the quarter-finals as two injury-time goals from Schick sealed a dramatic 5-4 aggregate victory against Qarabag.
Leverkusen started this game in the same fashion they ended that European encounter as Wirtz beautifully curled the ball into the far corner with just 85 seconds on the clock.
Doan threatened to spoil their day when he picked his spot perfectly after a neat one-two inside the box, but Freiburg created little else throughout the game.
Indecision at the back, which saw goalkeeper Noah Atubolu lose the ball, handed Hlozek the chance to roll into an open net to give Leverkusen a half-time lead.
Schick then met Jeremie Frimpong’s cross with a deft touch to give Leverkusen breathing space in the 53rd minute, before substitute Keitel pulled one back for Freiburg 26 minutes later.
Leverkusen are yet to lose a game across all competitions in 2023-24 and have just eight games left to play in the Bundesliga as they look to claim their first-ever league title.
Line-ups
Freiburg
Formation 4-2-2-2
1Atubola
25Sildillia28Ginter5Gulde30Günter
27Höfler34Röhl
42Doan32Grifo
9Höler22Sallai
- 1Atubola
- 25Sildilia
- 28GinterSubstituted forLienhartat 62’minutes
- 5 Gold
- 30Günter
- 27HöflerBooked at 72mins
- 34RöhlSubstituted forKeitelat 76’minutes
- 42Doan
- 32GrifoSubstituted forMuslijaat 62’minutes
- 9HölerSubstituted forPhilippat 76’minutes
- 22SallaiSubstituted forGregoritschat 62’minutes
Substitutes
- 3Lienhart
- 14Keitel
- 17Kübler
- 20Adamu
- 21 Muller
- 23Muslija
- 26Philipp
- 33Makengo
- 38Gregoritsch
B Leverkusen
Formation 3-4-2-1
1 Hradec Králové
2Stanisic4Tah3Hincapié
30Frimpong34Xhaka25Palacios20Grimaldo
23Hlozek10Wirtz
14Schick
- 1 Hradec Králové
- 2Stanisic
- 4Years
- 3Hincapié
- 30FrimpongSubstituted forTellaat 83’minutes
- 34 Xhaka
- 25PalaciosSubstituted forTapsobaat 89’minutes
- 20Grimaldo
- 23HlozekSubstituted forAndrichat 83’minutes
- 10Wirtz
- 14SchickSubstituted forAdliat 76’minutes
Substitutes
- 6 Kossounou
- 8 Andrew
- 9Iglesias
- 12Tapsoba
- 17 Blacksmith
- 18 Plate
- 19Tella
- 21 Adli
- 32Puerta
Referee:Harm Osmers
Attendance:34,700
Live Text
Match ends, SC Freiburg 2, Bayer 04 Leverkusen 3.
Second Half ends, SC Freiburg 2, Bayer 04 Leverkusen 3.
Attempt missed. Manuel Gulde (SC Freiburg) header from the left side of the six yard box is too high. Assisted by Florent Muslija with a cross following a corner.
Corner, SC Freiburg. Conceded by Josip Stanisic.
Attempt blocked. Álex Grimaldo (Bayer 04 Leverkusen) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Nathan Tella.
Substitution, Bayer 04 Leverkusen. Edmond Tapsoba replaces Exequiel Palacios.
Attempt missed. Exequiel Palacios (Bayer 04 Leverkusen) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left following a corner.
Corner, Bayer 04 Leverkusen. Conceded by Kiliann Sildillia.
Attempt saved. Granit Xhaka (Bayer 04 Leverkusen) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Florian Wirtz.
Nathan Tella (Bayer 04 Leverkusen) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Yannik Keitel (SC Freiburg).
Substitution, Bayer 04 Leverkusen. Robert Andrich replaces Adam Hlozek.
Substitution, Bayer 04 Leverkusen. Nathan Tella replaces Jeremie Frimpong.
Florian Wirtz (Bayer 04 Leverkusen) hits the left post with a right footed shot from very close range. Assisted by Álex Grimaldo with a cross following a corner.
Corner, Bayer 04 Leverkusen. Conceded by Philipp Lienhart.
Foul by Jeremie Frimpong (Bayer 04 Leverkusen).
Manuel Gulde (SC Freiburg) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Goal! SC Freiburg 2, Bayer 04 Leverkusen 3. Yannik Keitel (SC Freiburg) right footed shot from the left side of the six yard box to the bottom left corner.
Attempt saved. Yannik Keitel (SC Freiburg) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Florent Muslija.
Corner, SC Freiburg. Granted by Peter Hincapie.
2024-03-17 16:34:43
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