SC Freiburg and Bayer Leverkusen shared the spoils in a thrilling 3-3 Bundesliga encounter at the Europa-Park-Stadion, with Matthias Ginter’s late equalizer securing a dramatic point for the home side.
SC Freiburg salvaged a crucial point against Bayer Leverkusen, drawing 3-3 in a pulsating Bundesliga clash. Matthias Ginter emerged as the hero, heading home a late equalizer to cap a six-goal thriller.
Both teams entered the match with clear ambitions. Freiburg aimed to consolidate their mid-table position and push towards European qualification. Meanwhile, Leverkusen sought to strengthen their grip on a European spot, arriving with strong attacking form.
The game exploded into life around the half-hour mark. Freiburg struck first in the 34th minute, Vincenzo Grifo expertly guiding home a superb assist from Christian Günter. The Europa-Park-Stadion erupted as Freiburg took the lead.
Leverkusen responded swiftly, restoring parity just three minutes later. Christian Kofane slotted the ball past Noah Atubolu in the 37th minute, capitalizing on a quick counter-attack spearheaded by Martin Terrier. This set the tone for a frantic period.
Freiburg quickly regained their advantage. Yuito Suzuki, a standout performer, found the net in the 43rd minute. His well-placed shot, assisted by Philip Treu, gave Freiburg a 2-1 lead heading into stoppage time.
However, the drama was far from over. Just before the break, in the 45+3 minute, Alejandro Grimaldo unleashed a powerful strike. The full-back's goal drew Leverkusen level again, sending the teams into the tunnel at 2-2.
The first half provided relentless action and four goals. Both managers faced a challenge at half-time, needing to address defensive frailties while maintaining offensive pressure. The second half promised more excitement.
Leverkusen came out strong after the restart. Grimaldo picked up a yellow card for tripping in the 51st minute, but just a minute later, Martin Terrier put Leverkusen ahead. His 52nd-minute goal, set up by Kofane, made it 3-2.
Freiburg introduced fresh legs to chase an equalizer. Vincenzo Grifo and Christian Günter were replaced in the 63rd minute by Derry Scherhant and Jordy Makengo. Leverkusen also made changes, bringing on Iker Maza and Malik Tillman.
The game remained a feisty affair, with several yellow cards issued in quick succession. Derry Scherhant received a yellow in the 70th minute. Leverkusen's defense held firm as Freiburg pressed for a leveling goal.
Freiburg's persistence finally paid off late in the game. Defender Matthias Ginter rose highest to head home a corner in the 86th minute. His goal, assisted by Derry Scherhant, drew the home side level at 3-3, sending the crowd wild.
Statistics highlighted the attacking nature of the match. Freiburg recorded 22 total shots with 9 on target, outperforming their 2.5 xG. Leverkusen managed 17 shots with 5 on target, aligning closely with their 2.04 xG. Leverkusen maintained 53% possession, but Freiburg's goalkeeper, Noah Atubolu, made only 2 saves compared to Janis Blaswich's 6 for Leverkusen.
This thrilling 3-3 draw saw both teams display commendable resilience. The result keeps Freiburg firmly in the Bundesliga mid-table, while Leverkusen retains its push for a coveted European qualification spot, though dropping points.
