PLAYER RATINGS | Bayer Leverkusen 5-1 SC Freiburg | OneFootball

Bayer Leverkusen ended their historic year in style as they saw of SC Freiburg 5-1 to end the calendar year with only one loss domestically.

A very much Leverkusen dominated the first 45, but the visitors for the most part were able to deal with the pressure, however, they then began to crack as who else but Florian Wirtz caused plenty of problems for Freiburg’s backline and that bore fruits of Wirtz’s labour as Risu Doan tripped the 21-year-old to give Leverkusen a penalty. However, Wirtz would take the resultant penalty but it would be saved by Freiburg’s Noah Arubolu. Die Werkself continued to push for the opener and it came when Patrik Schick was played through and chipped the ball over the German under-21 keeper to make it 1-0 just before half-time.

Leverkusen would continue where they were off in the second half and in the 50th minute Wirtz would dance through the Freiburg back line to make it 2-0 for the hosts and with how the game was being played, but an end to it. However, Freiburg’s talisman Vincenzo Grifo would throw a spanner in the works with a long-range effort. Despite this brief Freiburg revival, Leverkusen were not fazed and scored a third in the 67th minute when Florian Wirtz’s cross was met by Schick to score his second of the game and his 60th Bundesliga goal overall. The pair would combine once again as a long ball allowed Wirtz to then lay the ball off to Schick whose shot was deflected into the next to complete his hat-trick. However, the Czech would not stop there as he scored a fourth when he headed in an Alejandro Grimaldo corner.

After Bayern Munich’s 5-1 win against RB Leipzig, Leverkusen provided the perfect counter to show that despite the four-point gap, Leverkusen are ready to go toe-to-toe with the Rekordmeister in their pursuit of retaining their title in the new year.

Die Werkself have ended the year very strongly and have really hit their stride in recent weeks, the key will be maintaining this upon their return from the winter break as there is always the possibility that teams will now begin to catch onto Bayern’s weaknesses and more points will be dropped.

Bayer Leverkusen:

Lukas Hradecky (6), Edmond Tapsoba (6), Jonathan Tah (6), Piero Hincapié (6), Jeremie Frimpong (6), Granit Xhaka (6), Exequiel Palacios (6), Alejandro Grimaldo (6), Nathan Tella (6) Florian Wirtz (9), Patrik Schick (9)

Others: Martin Terrier (5), Arthur (-), Aleix Garcia (-), Nordi Mukiele (-), Jeanuël Belocian (-)

SC Freiburg:

Noah Atubolu (6), Lukas Kübler (4), Matthias Ginter (5), Philipp Lienhart (5), Christian Günter (5), Maximilian Eggestian (5), Patrick Osterhage (5), Ritsu Doan (4), Lucas Höler (4), Vincenzo Grifo (6), Michael Gregoritsch (5)

Others: Merlin Röhl (5), Junior Adamu (5), Killian Sildillia (5), Max Rosenfelder (5)

GGFN Man of the Match: Florian Wirtz (9)

It feels like an obligation to give Schick the Man of the Match award as he scored four goals, all of varying degrees and he finally looks back to his best after struggling playing behind Victor Boniface for much of the past 18 months. HOWEVER, Florian Wirtz’s performance today was immaculate. Wirtz ran the show scoring and assisting three times to help Leverkusen beat Freiburg. From minute one until minute 90 he terrorised Freiburg’s defence and they could not find an answer for him.

GGFN | Jack Meenan