Arizona Tribune - Leverkusen bounce back from PSG drubbing against Freiburg

Dismantled 7-2 by the European champions at the same venue five days ago, Leverkusen took the lead midway through the opening half when Ernest Poku hit a low shot into the bottom right corner.

The hosts doubled up early in the second half when Edmond Tapsoba muscled through the Freiburg defence to head in an Alejandro Grimaldo cross.

The victory took the 2023-24 double winners to fourth spot in the table, two points clear of Stuttgart, who host Mainz in Sunday's final match.

Leverkusen have now won four in a row in the Bundesliga as part of a seven-match domestic unbeaten run.

Coach Kasper Hjulmand, who replaced the sacked Erik ten Hag two games into the league season, is yet to taste defeat in the Bundesliga.

The loss was Freiburg's first in the league since August.

These two sides played out a 2-2 draw in May but only three players who started for Leverkusen on Sunday were at the club last season.

After 22 minutes, Spain midfielder Aleix Garcia played a clever one-two with Poku to assist the latter's opener for the hosts.

It was the eighth time in eight league games this season Leverkusen have scored first.

Tapsoba's header seven minutes into the second half put Leverkusen on track for victory.

With 15 minutes remaining, Freiburg were reduced to 10 men when Philipp Lienhart picked up a second yellow, dashing their hopes of an unlikely comeback.

P.Smith--AT