The game began with one change to the starting eleven, with Merlin Röhl replacing the suspended Maximilian Eggestein – the first game that Eggestein has missed this season. The game began with a brilliant goal from Leverkusen, the type that SC head coach Christian Streich had warned about before the game. Florian Wirtz received the ball in the second minute in the corner of the box, wasn’t closed down well enough and fired the ball across goal into the far corner to make it 1-0. This was also the only dangerous attack from the away side until the 40th minute, because shortly after conceding the hosts also grew into the game.

Not ten minutes after Wirtz’s goal, Ritsu Doan produced a piece of magic of his own, cutting in from the right-hand side, again not being closed down decisively enough, he smashed the ball low into the bottom right corner to equalise (10’). SC had found a strong response to going behind early with their first shot on target. With this goal SC became braver on the ball, especially through Doan on the right-hand side, whose cross was narrowly missed by Vincenzo Grifo at the backpost in the 15th minute. SC had taken a few minutes but had now found their footing in the game, forcing the ‘Werkself’ into careless errors in possession and they had another chance in the 20th minute, with Christian Günter letting fly from distance.

Leverkusen take the lead out of nowhere

SC kept getting the ball forward quickly in attack, and worked the ball well withKiliann Sildillia, Lucas Höler and Röhl in the 24th minute. The 21-year-old’s shot from the edge of the box faded just wide. Roland Sallai missed a promising chance two minutes later. In the 35th minute, SC appeared to have an overload in front of Leverkusen’s goal, but Günter’s shot was blocked.

SC made it really difficult for the league leaders, were brave on the ball, strong in the challenge and worked the ball forward well. After around half an hour, Leverkusen had a better spell of possession again but hardly had any shots on goal, with SC committed in duels and staying alert defensively. Despite this, it was Leverkusen who retook the lead. Noah Atubolu was unable to claim a through ball and it broke free to Adam Hlozek in front of goal who turned it into an open net (40’).

Bayer get another early goal, SC keep on fighting

The visitors again controlled proceedings in the second half and pushed SC deep into their own half. Patrik Schick made it 3-1 for Leverkusen after 53 minutes, with his shot hitting both posts and eventually going in. The league leaders were extremely clinical with their chances, while the hosts were too wasteful. One such example came in the 57th minute as Röhl headed Günter’s cross wide.

SC had more of the ball in the final third after around an hour, albeit without really troubling goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky. The game was played at a lower tempo compared to the first half and Leverkusen knocked the ball about nicely. Freiburg continued to battle and search for a goal – Günter fired a low ball across the box without finding anyone (77’). Streich’s team continued to believe and did get a goal back. Yannik Keitel, who had just come off the bench, was played the ball by Florent Muslija and got a shot off, which was saved by Hradecky, but he then scored the rebound to reduce the deficit (79’). Wirtz almost killed the game off straight away as he hit the post.

Spurred on by the Südtribüne, the team didn’t give up and threw everything forward in additional time. SC pumped the ball forward and had one a further corner, which Nicolas Höfler headed just over the target. This was the last chance against the Bundesliga’s unbeaten top team. “It’s a shame that it wasn’t enough to get a point. With the way the game went a point would’ve been deserved,” said Keitel who celebrated his first goal of the season despite the defeat. “It is a nice feeling when the ball ripples into the net.” Streich was frustrated with several refereeing decisions: “All the small things were blown up against us today. That wasn’t ok. I was pleased with the team. it’s a shame that we didn’t manage to get a draw.”

Photo: Achim Keller