Freiburg hold RB Leipzig to frustrate their title ambitions

SC Freiburg dented RB Leipzig’s title hopes by holding the hosts to a 1-1 draw as the Bundesliga resumed behind closed doors following the Covid-19 pandemic.

Things could have been even better for Freiburg, who thought they’d won it in stoppage time, when captain Christian Günter’s free-kick to the back post was headed across goal by striker Lucas Höler and turned in by Robin Koch. However, after much deliberation VAR ruled it out for offside, adjudging Höler to have fractionally mistimed his run in order to meet the free-kick.

It was Leipzig who started the match on the front foot, dominating possession and creating a succession of good chances. Tyler Adams smashed a shot from the edge of the area after eight minutes but, it was beaten away by Freiburg’s goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow. Timo Werner went close, running onto a long throw from his keeper Péter Gulácsi, beating the Freiburg defence and drilling a low shot at Schwolow which he could only parry. However, Konrad Laimer couldn’t turn the rebound in and Freiburg shepherded it behind for a corner.

Against the run of play, Freiburg took the lead after 34 minutes, when Vincenzo Grifo delivered an inswinging corner which rather fortuitously flicked in off Manuel Gulde, wrong footing everyone and trickled into the net.

In the second half, it was all Leipzig as they tried to find a way back into the match. However, they continued to squander good chances as Ademola Lookman headed wide from six yards on the hour mark, when it looked easier to score. Christopher Nkunku and Werner were then both brilliantly denied by Schwolow, who was impressive throughout.

With 13 minutes left Leipzig finally got the breakthrough they were looking for, Kevin Kampl produced a deep cross which Yussuf Poulsen met with a header which flew beyond Schwolow and into the net.

The hosts tried to push on and find a winner, with Marcel Sabitzer and Patrik Schick both going close before Freiburg thought they’d pinched it at the death only to be denied by technology.

The result leaves Leipzig four points behind leaders Bayern Munich but elevates Freiburg to seventh place.

Leipzig: Gulacsi – Mukiele (Lookman 46′), Klostermann, Halstenberg – Adams (Sabitzer 69′), Kampl, Laimer, Angelino – Nkunku (Schick 81′), Werner – Poulsen (c)
Unused subs: Mvogo, Orban, Konate, Haidara, Wolf, Olmo

Freiburg: Schwolow – Gulde, Lienhart, Heintz – Schmid (Schlotterbeck 90′), Koch, Höfler, Günter (c) – Grifo (Waldschmidt 68′), Petersen (Haberer 68′), Sallai (Höler 61′)
Unused subs: Thiede, Abrashi, Itter, Kwon, Tempelmann