Bundesliga 2021/22: How Freiburg overcame Bayer Leverkusen in a tense fixture with European implications – tactical analysis

Freiburg and Bayer Leverkusen competed in an incredibly interesting fixture this weekend, with implications for Champions League places in the Bundesliga. The game resulted in Freiburg getting the win against the travelling Leverkusen, and in doing so leapfrogged their rivals where they now sit in third place going into the winter break, behind just Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich. Bayer Leverkusen now sit in fourth place, one point behind Freiburg. 

It was a game where there were moments of real quality, with Leverkusen constructing dangerous quick breaks on the counter-attack, whilst Freiburg stitched together flowing attacking movements starting from Flekken and playing all the way forward. They were dangerous from out wide, and it was a cross into the area in the 84th minute that allowed them to win the game. Before this, they won a penalty due to a handball from a cross that was expertly converted by the continuously impressive Vincenzo Grifo. Leverkusen were good value for their goal even if they could have scored from easier chances, instead Charles Aranguiz reacting quickly to turn in a Jonathan Tah bicycle kick that came from a corner.

This tactical analysis provides an in-depth analysis on the tactics used by both teams in this Bundesliga fixture.

Formations and line-ups

Christian Streich has chopped and changed between using a back four and a back three with Freiburg on many occasions this season, and this weekend he opted for the back four. With Mark Flekken starting in goal, Nico Schlotterbeck and Philip Lienhart sat in front of him as the centre defensive pairing. Lukas Kübler started at right-back whilst captain Christian Günter started at left-back. In midfield Nico Hofler and Janik Haberer started as a double pivot with Woo-Yeong Jeong sat in front of them in the 10 role. Vincenzo Grifo and Rolland Sallai started either side of this midfield three with Lucas Höler starting upfront.

For Bayer Leverkusen Lukas Hradecky started in goal, behind a back four of Jeremie Frimpong, Odilon Kossounou, Jonathan Tah and Daley Sinkgraven. Similar to Freiburg, Leverkusen had a double pivot with Charles Aragnuiz partnering Robert Andrich. Kerem Demirbay started in the 10 role in front of them. Patrik Schick led the line-up front flanked on either wing by the young and prodigiously talented pairing of Florian Wirtz and Amine Adli.

Freiburg’s outstanding left side

Grifo has been outstanding all season and is rightfully beginning to receive plaudits for his performances. Along with Günter he represented a consistent threat to Leverkusen’s goal.
Günter is an exceptionally hard-working full-back, and even when operating as part of a back four, he pushed forward continuously as if playing as a wing-back in part of a back five.

Günter and Grifo have developed an understanding between one another only possible from the years they have spent playing with one another. One basic but consistent feature in this relationship is that they rarely play on the same vertical line.