Leverkusen maintains unbeaten Bundesliga run with 2-0 Freiburg victory

Bayer Leverkusen, under head coach Kasper Hjulmand, secured a 2-0 victory against Freiburg, maintaining their unbeaten Bundesliga run and climbing to fourth place. 

This win marked their fourth consecutive league triumph, showcasing a strong recovery from a 7-2 Champions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain midweek.

The scoring opened in the 22nd minute when Ernest Poku linked up with Aleix Garcia for a one-two before curling a precise shot into the far corner. 

Leverkusen doubled their lead early in the second half when Alex Grimaldo’s whipped cross from the right was met by Edmond Tapsoba’s clinical header. Freiburg’s hopes faded further when Philipp Lienhart received a second yellow card for a tactical foul, marking his first career red card.

Leverkusen pressed for more, but Freiburg goalkeeper Noah Atubolu denied Poku a second goal, and Grimaldo missed a late chance. Despite the midweek European setback, Hjulmand, who replaced Erik ten Hag in September, remains unbeaten in domestic play. 

Leverkusen’s fast starts have been a hallmark this season, with the team scoring first in every league match, a record matched only by league leaders Bayern Munich.

The hosts dominated Freiburg, continuing a streak of four wins and two draws in their last six encounters, with Freiburg’s last victory over Leverkusen dating back to September 2022. 

Leverkusen created four big chances compared to Freiburg’s one, finishing with an expected goals (xG) total of 1.75 from 17 shots, while Freiburg managed 0.72 xG from 10 attempts. Grimaldo’s assist for Tapsoba’s goal was his third of the season, leading Leverkusen in assists for the 2025-26 campaign.

This performance underlined Leverkusen’s attacking prowess and defensive solidity, with Hjulmand’s side showcasing their ability to bounce back and maintain momentum in the Bundesliga.

Elsewhere, Stuttgart secured a 2-1 victory over Mainz with Nadiem Amiri putting the away side ahead in the 41st minute.

Chris Fuhrich restored parity for the home side in the added minutes of halftime before Deniz Undav scored the winning goal in the 80th minute to secure a hard-fought victory for the host.