Leverkusen Bounce Back At Freiburg

Bundesliga

Result: Freiburg 0-1 Bayer Leverkusen

Date: 29 May 2020

Venue: Schwarzwald-Stadion

Bayer Leverkusen got back to winning ways in the Bundesliga after defeating Freiburg, with reported Liverpool target Kai Havertz popping up with the winner.

Havertz started alongside Florian Wirtz and Leon Bailey in a Leverkusen side hoping to get back to winning ways, whereas Nils Petersen replaced Luca Waldschmidt for the hosts.

Vincenzo Grifo found himself out wide in the first seven minutes before having his snap-shot deflected behind the goal of Lukas Hradecky, as Freiburg threatened first.

Leverkusen responded soon thereafter, with Sven Bender flashing a shot wide amidst the presence of a sprawling Jonathan Tah towards the touchline.

The most glaring chance of the first half though fell to Freiburg just before halftime when a through ball to Roland Sallai landed kindly to Lucas Holer, who despite side-footed wide after going clear.

Following a quiet first half, Leverkusen were on the back foot earlier on in the second stanza with Petersen at the end of a flowing move before Sallai headed over a little later.

However, Leverkusen got the all-important breakthrough with 54 minutes gone after Havertz profited off a telling ball from Bailey before completing the move with a solid finish.

Wirtz went close to giving the visitors a second two minutes later with a ball from Havertz, but the final effort sailed wide of target.

Despite being in control, Leverkusen still went and introduced the first change of the evening on 62 minutes as Lucas Alario replaced Daley Sinkgraven.

Freiburg started fighting back in the final quarter, but the finishing from Jonathan Schmid and Petersen failed to trouble Hradecky as Leverkusen held out for the win to keep their top four dreams alive.