Leon Bailey strikes again as Bayer Leverkusen beat Freiburg
Leon Bailey continued his purple patch as Bayer Leverkusen returned to winning ways with a 2-0 victory over Freiburg.
Goals: 1-0 Aranguiz (4'), 2-0 Bailey (73')
Leverkusen could have had the lead within three minutes when Bailey sent in a dangerous cross, but the home fans' frustration at seeing no Leverkusen shirt gambling on the ball lasted less than 60 seconds as Charles Aranguiz volleyed in a shot, which took a slight deflection on its way into the bottom left-hand corner. Tin Jedvaj was not as lucky as his deflected shot went just wide of the post, but Leverkusen were in full control of proceedings, boasting up to 83 per cent possession and creating chances to double their lead. An acrobatic effort from Kevin Volland was about the closest they got to taking a more comfortable lead into the interval, though.
Freiburg had their first chance of the game five minutes into the second half, but Lukas Hradecky was alert to save Christian Günter's effort. Video Assist ensured a Leverkusen penalty was repealed, but it was only a matter of time before they did double their advantage, and Bailey made sure of a second goal when he touched Julian Brandt's cross in with Volland also lurking to score. Günter tested Hradecky again late on, but Leverkusen's victory was never in doubt as they bounced back from defeat to Borussia Dortmund to break into the top six, at least for a night.
Match stats
- Aranguiz scored Leverkusen's quickest goal of the season; it was his first since September 2017, when he also scored against Freiburg.
- Freiburg captain Mike Frantz made his 200th Bundesliga appearance.
- Leverkusen have scored at least two goals in six straight Bundesliga games, for the first time in almost three years.
- After failing to score in 16 straight league outings, Jamaican winger Bailey has grabbed three goals in five outings for Leverkusen; three of his four goals this season have come at home.
- Freiburg have won only two of their 12 away league games this season.
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Line-ups
Leverkusen: Hradecky – Weiser, Tah, S. Bender (Dragovic 22'), Jedvaj – Baumgartlinger, Aranguiz – Havertz (Kohr 85'), Brandt, Bailey (Paulinho 87') – Volland (c)
Unused subs: Özcan, Kiese Thelin, Wendell, Schreck
Out: Bellarabi (thigh), L. Bender (thigh), Pohjanpalo (ankle), Retsos (thigh), Alario (knee)
Coach: Peter Bosz
Freiburg: Schwolow – Kübler, Lienhart, Heintz, Günter – Haberer, Frantz (c) (Gondorf 74'), Abrashi (Höler 81'), Grifo – Petersen, Waldschmidt (Niederlechner 68')
Unused subs: Flekken, Stenzel, Schlotterbeck, Okoroji
Out: Gulde (hamstring), Höfler (knee), Kath (groin), Kleindienst (knee), Koch (knee), Sallai (groin), Terrazzino (illness)
Coach: Christian Streich
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