Highlights
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90'
+ 4
Game over
The referee brings a decent game to a close with the points shared. Grifo's super first-half free kick was cancelled out by Azmoun's volley after the break. A draw probably a fair result. Freiburg are in fifth position in the standings. Leverkusen remain in 11th.
Full-time
90'
+ 2
B04 off the post!
Leverkusen almost nick it! My oh my. Demirbay's powerful pass is deflected onto the post by Schick! Demirbay then bends the loose ball just past the back stick.
90'
Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 90 minutes
Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 90 minutes
Through high-end camera technology and machine learning, the speed of each player is evaluated in real time. Top speed then means, the fastest measured single frame of a player/game.
87'
Azmoun and out
Both goalscorers are off the pitch now as Azmoun accepts the handshakes of Xabi Alonso and makes his way to the bench. Amiri sprints on for the closing minutes.
86'
Substitution
85'
Azmoun alert
Azmoun races through on the left and almost picks out Frimpong inside the box. Not quite, though.
84'
Freiburg changes
Double swap from home coach Streich. Jeong and Petersen are now in the mix.
83'
Substitution
83'
Substitution
80'
Shots aplenty
Goal attempts
5off target
4on target
9off target
4on target
76'
Flekken stands tall
Palacios draws a solid stop from Flekken as we head into the game's final 15 minutes.
72'
Azmoun in numbers
Azmoun's equaliser was only his second ever Bundesliga goal for Leverkusen. The forward scored with his first shot on goal today.
70'
Off the post !
Amazing sequence. Grifo's set piece is headed at the target by Ginter. Hradecky parries the ball onto the head of Höler and it then pings from Höler's noggin against the upright. That happened so fast everyone was left scratching their heads for a second.
67'
Super equaliser
What a goal this is! Wirtz taps it to his left and Bakker - with the sweetest of outside-of-the-boot swooshes - floats a pass onto Azmoun's right boot. The striker connects on the volley and cuts the ball back across Flekken and in. Lovely stuff.
Goal probability
Goal probability
Goal probability determines the likelihood that the ball will land in the goal from every position on the pitch. The value is based on large amounts of data from previous years; factors such as shot angle, distance to goal and opponent pressure - as well as mathematical models.
66'
Schick on
Big man Schick is on for Bayer. Can the striker make the difference?
66'
Substitution
64'
No go Frimpong
Frimpong races down the right and gets into the Freiburg area. The flying full back tries to do it all himself, however, and is eventually dispossessed.
61'
Schick at the ready
Patrik Schick - he of the 24 Bundesliga goals last season - is preparing to come on for Leverkusen.
Grifo omen
© Getty
58'
Sallai busy
Sallai again has a go from distance. Hradecky pushes the shot back in front of him but there are no Freiburg players around to gobble up the loose ball.
54'
Leverkusen the likelier?
xGoals
The xGoals value of a club is calculated from the sum of all goal probabilities (goals and shots on goal) of that team. During a match, it’s easy to see whether the club is performing better than expected (goals > xGoals) - or maybe even higher (xGoals > goals).
xGoals
1
0.2
1.49
1
Goals
50'
Sallai takes aim
Sallai releases some of the home pressure with an effort that flies narrowly over.
48'
Demirbay has a pop
The set piece was a fair way out but Leverkusen still had a whack at the target, Demirbay bending a shot over the crossbar.
48'
B04 set piece moment
Diaby is upended by a pretty poor Höfler tackle and Leverkusen have a free kick in a decent position.
46'
Away we go again
The snow is falling steadily now as Leverkusen kick off the second half. The visitors have brought Florian Wirtz on at the break, Hlozek making way.
Kick-off!
45'
+ 2
Substitution
45'
+ 2
Break time
The referee brings the first half to a close. Freiburg are heading back to fourth if things stay like this. Grifo's sweetly-struck free kick separates the sides.
45'
+ 2
Diaby through
Diaby looks just offside as he races through on goal. The French attacker fires low and Flekken saves with his outstretched boot.
Half-time
44'
Shot masters
Shots
2
2
Vincenzo Grifo Kerem Demirbay
42'
Nervy Flekken
Flekken gets away with one following a loose pass that almost allows Hlozek to score. Shaky from the Freiburg custodian.
40'
Frimpong over
Bakker is away down the left and floats an inviting ball towards the far post. Frimpong is watching it all the way and dips to head .... over the top. That was a decent chance for the visitors.
38'
Leverkusen coming good
A good spell from Bayer now. Hlozek finds Diaby, who is just forced out. Demirbay then thunders a shot from distance at goal. Flekken dives and gets two hands on the shot to parry over.
Grifo climbing
© Imago
33'
Gregoritsch in the book
Gregoritsch is shown a yellow card following a foul on Palacios.
32'
Set-piece specialists
Freiburg scored a 16th goal from a set piece this season while Grifo struck 13 of said dead-balls leading to goals.
30'
Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 30 minutes
Speed check: The fastest player in the game after 30 minutes
Through high-end camera technology and machine learning, the speed of each player is evaluated in real time. Top speed then means, the fastest measured single frame of a player/game.
29'
Glorious Grifo!
Grifo takes one step up to the ball and sends a super free kick flying in off the post. Amazing. What a season he's having. The hosts lead.
Goal probability
Goal probability
Goal probability determines the likelihood that the ball will land in the goal from every position on the pitch. The value is based on large amounts of data from previous years; factors such as shot angle, distance to goal and opponent pressure - as well as mathematical models.
28'
Demirbay yellow
Höfler is clattered by Demirbay. Free kick for Freiburg and a booking for the B04 man.
26'
Sallai booked
Welcome to the game, Roland Sallai ! The Freiburg sub mauls Flekken down to the floor and the Leverkusen midfielder grabs his face on the way down. Yellow card.
25'
Freiburg swap
And there's the change. Disappointment for Doan who lightly jogs to the touchline. Roland Sallai is on.
25'
Substitution
23'
Change afoot
Ritsu Doan may well be about to come off at any moment. The Japan international seems to be carrying a knock.
22'
Shot count increasing
Goal attempts
1off target
1on target
2off target
0on target
18'
Home pressure
Höfler is next up with a Freiburg shot which Hradecky saves handily enough. Freiburg are finding their rhythm.
17'
Grifo has a go
Close! Grifo plays a tasty one-two with Gregoritsch on the edge of the box before the Italy international arcs his body and angles a low shot narrowly wide.
16'
Close battle
Possession (%)
4852
11'
Diaby danger
What a difference Diaby makes. The Parisian dances around Kübler and is suddenly in on Flekken. The attacker takes a smidge of a heavy touch, meaning he's stretching to cut the ball back and his pass falls straight to Ginter.
7'
Bayer set-piece
Diaby menaces and wins a corner. Demirbay takes and a spot of pinball ensues inside the Freiburg area. The hosts manage to thump clear.
3'
Freiburg shoot first
Leverkusen give the ball away at the back and Höler ends up scuffing wide from the left.
1'
Game on
Leverkusen, all in white, get the match underway in the Black Forest.
Kick-off!
All set
Handshakes are out of the way and we're ready to go. Freiburg want that fourth place back, Leverkusen are looking for a big away scalp.
Snow is falling ...
There are a few flakes falling overhead, not that that's preventing a warm atmosphere inside the stadium. The players are in the tunnel ...
0:26
Hosts shaping up
Warm ups over
Both sides have completed their respective big-game warm-ups and are heading back to the dressing rooms for one final team talk. We're edging ever closer to kick off.
Victory required
Leverkusen will be hoping that penalty shootout win in Monaco that took the Werkself into the Europa League last 16 will bring some much needed confidence and consistency. Despite currently sitting in eleventh spot, a win today would keep B04 in touch with the European places.
Missing captain
© Getty
B04 team news
Leverkusen make four changes to the team that began the ultimately successful trip to Monaco last Thursday. Jonathan Tah, Piero Hincapie and Amine Adli are all suspended while Florian Wirtz drops to the bench. Moussa Diaby starts again having recently recovered from a thigh complaint while striker Patrik Schick continues his return to match fitness from the bench once more.
Freiburg team news
© Imago
Bayer subs
Pentz, Sinkgraven, Fosu-Mensah, Amiri, Mbamba, Wirtz, Schick, Hudson-Odoi, Bellarabi
Bayer starting XI
Hradecky (c) - Frimpong, Kossounou, Tapsoba, Bakker - Demirbay, Andrich, Palacios - Diaby, Azmoun, Hlozek
Freiburg subs
Uphoff, Gulde, Schmid, Keitel, Sallai, Jeong, Weißhaupt, Röhl, Petersen
Freiburg starting XI
Flekken (c) - Sildillia, Ginter, Lienhart, Kübler - Eggestein, Höfler - Doan, Höler, Grifo - Gregoritsch
Early team news
For the hosts, they must make do without suspended captain Christian Günter today in what will be the first Bundesliga match he has missed in four years. Kiliann Sildillia is likely to come in at right-back, with Lukas Kübler moved to the left. Leverkusen, meanwhile, are bolstered by the return to fitness of Patrik Schick but it remains to be seen which role Moussa Diaby can play after injury. They are definitely missing the suspended trio of Amine Adli, Piero Hincapie and Jonathan Tah.
2:03
Watch: Freiburg beat Bochum 2-0 on Matchday 21
Streich ready for "quality" Leverkusen
© Simon Hofmann/Bundesliga/Bundesliga Collection via Getty Images
2:03
Watch: Leverkusen 2-3 Mainz - highlights
Alonso: "We've got to learn from Mainz defeat"
© Daniel Kopatsch/Bundesliga/Bundesliga Collection via Getty Images
2:03
Watch: Freiburg win five-goal thriller in reverse
Can Freiburg keep pace?
Christian Streich's home side are still just three points off top spot going into Matchday 22 and a win over Leverkusen would keep them in the hunt for the title. At the start of the season, Xabi Alonso's visitors would have hoped to be similarly placed at this stage of the season. They, however, are in the bottom half after an inconsistent campaign.
0:30
Watch: Get ready for Freiburg vs. Leverkusen!
Welcome along!
Here you can find all the information about SC Freiburg against Bayer 04 Leverkusen on matchday 22.