Freiburg on course for Europe after denting Leverkusen's hopes
Freiburg strengthened their claim for European football next season while all but ending Bayer Leverkusen's hopes of catching the top six with a 2-1 win at the Schwarzwald-Stadion.
Freiburg 2-1 Bayer Leverkusen
Goals: 1-0 Petersen (11'), 1-1 Volland (pen. 60'), Stenzel (88')
Freiburg lost their top-six berth on Saturday but they made it crystal clear they wanted it back, taking the lead just ten minutes in with Petersen's earliest ever Bundesliga goal, fired to perfection beyond Bernd Leno's reach. Petersen could have made it two soon after while Onur Bulut also went close for an efficient and effective home side, faced with a Leverkusen outfit who had plenty of the ball, but lacked ideas and incision.
Man of the Match
Florian Niederlechner did not manage to get his name on the scoresheet, but he came close by hitting the crossbar before Petersen scored. Following Leverkusen's equaliser, he was the man who lifted his team-mates and led by example.
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Talking Point
With just four games to go, Leverkusen now face an uphill struggle to qualify for Europe next season – and it would be the first time since 2009/10 that there would be no European football at the BayArena. Freiburg, meanwhile, have strengthened their claim for a return to the continental stage with this win.
Match Stats
- The last time Petersen scored in a game he started was on 5 May 2015, against Paderborn.Freiburg have only thrown away a 1-0 lead to lose once this season – against Bayern Munich.Leverkusen's equaliser came in the 60th minute – the very same minute they levelled against Freiburg in the reverse fixture.
Line-ups
Freiburg: Schwolow - Ignjovski, Söyüncü , Kempf, Günter - Höfler - Frantz (c) – Bulut (75' Stenzel), Haberer (90+1' Guede) – Petersen (76' Nielsen), Niederlechner
Coach: Christian Streich
Leverkusen: Leno - Hilbert, Dragovic, Toprak (c), Wendell - Baumgartlinger , Kampl – Havertz (79' Aranguiz), Volland, Brandt – Chicharito
Coach: Tayfun Korkut
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Watch: click play on the video below to hear what Nils Petersen thinks of Freiburg's European push: