Although SC went top of the Bundesliga table after their 3-2 win over Leverkusen on Saturday afternoon, the gaffer’s feet remain firmly on the ground: “We didn’t really respond after we went behind in the first half but that can happen against Leverkusen.  We also weren’t good enough in possession. Two of our goals came from set pieces and it was a bit of a fortuitous win. Things are going our way at the moment in terms of results,” explained Christian Streich after the game.

The coaching staff moved away from a back four and opted for a back three for the first time this season. Streich also made a change to the starting XI, with Manuel Gulde coming in for Ritsu Doan. “We decided to go for the back three in order to protect the flanks and to find spaces through good positioning,” explained the gaffer.

Gerardo Seoane was forced to make a couple of changes to his Leverkusen side, as Mitchel Bakker and Piero Haincapie were suspended after picking up red cards against Mainz last weekend. Edmond Tapsoba and Daley Sinkgraven were subsequently brought into the team.

Sallai injured and SC go behind early on

The game had barely even begun before Roland Sallai had to go off the field due to injury. The 25-year-old was stretchered off after he was caught by a Jonathan Tah high boot and he was replaced Wooyeong Jeong.

The bad start to the game got worse, when Kerim Demirbay gave the hosts the lead. The midfielder tapped in from close range after Gulde failed to deal with Odilon Kossounou’s pass into the box.

It took SC a few minutes to recover after the injury and the early goal. Bayer were looking to preserve their lead and sat deep in their own half. Although Freiburg enjoyed a lot of the ball, they failed to create anything too clear-cut.

Leverkusen continued to look dangerous on the counter attack and had a big chance to double their lead in the 35th minute through Patrik Schick. Mark Flekken, however, was equal to the challenge and he saved the Czech Republic international’s close-range shot. The goalkeeper was once again called into action a few minutes later, when he tipped Moussa Diaby’s low shot round the post (41’). This proved to be the last significant action of the half and the hosts went into the dressing room 1-0 up.

Freiburg respond quickly after the break

SC switched to a back four after the break and Maxi Eggestein and Ritsu Doan replaced Manuel Gulde and Yannik Keitel. The changes paid dividends almost immediately. Freiburg’s equaliser came when Matthias Ginter powerfully headed home from a Grifo corner (48’).

Just three minutes later, the visitors, who had come out firing on all cylinders after the break, went into the lead. Wooyeong Jeong capitalised on a loose Tapsoba pass and ran with the ball into the penalty area. He kept his composure on the byline to find Michael Gregoritsch, who slotted it in to put his side 2-1 up (51’).

It took Leverkusen a bit of time to respond after going behind but in contrast to the first half, the game opened up and both sides had their chances.

As the half progressed, it became apparent that the fourth goal would be crucial, but unfortunately for SCF, it went to the hosts. Patrik Schick beat Ginter and Grifo in the air to get on the end of a Hudson-Odoi cross, and the 26-year-old nodded it past Flekken to put his side back on level terms (65’).

Doan proves to be Freiburg’s hero

Luckily for the guests, there would be a fifth goal in this thrilling contest. It came courtesy of Ritsu Doan, who tapped home a Günter corner at the far post to send the travelling supporters wild.

Jeremy Frimpong missed a chance to put the hosts level in the 77th minute, as did Timothy Fosu-Mensah in stoppage time, but Streich’s side clung on to take the three points.

Next up for Freiburg is their first UEFA Europa League group stage match against Qarabağ Ağdam on Thursday evening (21:00 CEST).

Photo: Stefan Brauer / DeFodi Images