Bayer Leverkusen continues to march towards the championship in the Bundesliga: Unimpressed by the victory of rivals Bayern Munich, the front-runner won at SC Freiburg.
On Sunday (March 17, 2024), Bayer 04 Leverkusen retained the upper hand with 3:2 (2:1). Florian Wirtz (2nd minute) and the Czech strikers Adam Hlozek (40th) and Patrik Schick (53rd) scored the Leverkusen goals. Ritsu Doan (10th) had equalized for Freiburg in the meantime, Yannik Keitel’s follow-up goal (79th) didn’t change the SC defeat.
To the live ticker: Freiburg – Leverkusen arrow right 26th matchday arrow right
Bayer Leverkusen extends club records
With eight game days before the end of the season, the “Werkself” maintain their ten-point lead over Munich, who beat bottom team Darmstadt the day before. 15 of the 24 points still possible are enough for Leverkusen to achieve a great triumph.
In addition to the 38th competitive game in a row without defeat, Bayer also set other club records with their sixth away win in a row and their 22nd win of the season. The Leverkusen team still has a triple chance. B04 are in the semi-finals of the DFB Cup and the quarter-finals of the Europa League.
Leverkusen’s Wirtz ensures Bayer gets off to a flying start
The “Werkself” got off to the perfect start. The game had basically just started when the “Werkself” launched their first counterattack. Alejandro Grimaldo sent Wirtz on his way, who beat Matthias Ginter and Nicolas Höfler and flicked the ball into the corner.
Afterwards, Leverkusen, led by director Wirtz, played with the self-confidence of the league leaders and let the ball run. But Freiburg gave Bayer 04 remarkably little space and pressed in a disciplined manner. And was actually rewarded with the early equalizer. Doan powered through strongly on the right side and pushed into the penalty area, his finish after a one-two with Lucas Höler flew into the net to make it 1-1.
Well-adjusted Freiburgers made life difficult for the leaders, but in the end the Werkself’s half-time lead, which Hlozek, who had just moved into the starting line-up, took after a mistake by SC goalkeeper Noah Atubolu, was okay due to clear field advantages and better chances (8: 5 shots on goal).
Patrik Schick scores a magic goal
After the restart, the game continued in the direction of the guests from the Rhineland. Hlozek also made a good impression at the front and took advantage of his chance in the starting eleven.
The third Leverkusen goal was scored by his colleague Schick: the Czech allowed Jeremie Frimpong’s cross to slip over the inside of the net with a fine technique and thus lobbed over Atubolu in the Freiburg box. The ball bounced to both posts and then in. The VAR briefly checked again for a possible offside position, but there was nothing to complain about.
However, anyone who wanted to write off the Breisgauers was disabused. SC coach Christian Streich brought fresh players from the bench, Florent Muslija and Michael Gregoritsch (61st), then Maximilian Philipp and Yannik Keitel (76th) came on for the offensive.
Freiburg’s Joker Keitel makes it exciting again
The latter made things even more exciting with the goal. After a great pass from Muslija, Keitel only failed in a duel with Leverkusen’s goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky, but the Finn let the ball bounce forward and Keitel pushed in to make it 2-3. Leverkusen got the lead over time and took another important three points in the title race.
Freiburg in Gladbach, Leverkusen against TSG
SC Freiburg will play at Borussia Mönchengladbach after the international break. Bayer Leverkusen hosts Hoffenheim (both games Saturday, March 30th, 3:30 p.m.).