"We were determined to become a force again at home. From the first minute, the approach of the players was brilliant in putting Heiko Herrlich's plans into effect," said sporting manager Jonas Boldt who joined Herrlich on the touchline for the first time today.
Double goalscorer Kevin Volland said: "Today's game was really crucial. We were dominant from back to front and fully deserved the win. Of course, I'm happy I scored my goals."
Heiko Herrlich made three changes to the side that lost 3-1 in Mainz: Benny Henrichs was replaced on the right side of defence by captain Lars Bender. New signing Panos Retsos made his debut for Bayer 04 in central defence in place of Jonathan Tah. Kai Havertz replaced Admir Mehmedi in midfield.
The Werkself played with a back four against SC Freiburg and the Bender twins provided more stability in defence with their experience. It was the first time this season that Lars and Sven have played together in a competitive match.
Playing a 4-2-3-1 system, Bayer 04 took control of the game from the start and had the first chance of the match on five minutes through Karim Bellarabi but his shot from a tight angle was saved by the SCF keeper Alexander Schwolow. The Werkself were clearly the superior team at the BayArena as they pressed forward in search of the opening goal. However, Freiburg's Philipp Lienhardt intervened to block a whipped-in cross from Bellarabi on 16 minutes. Kai Havertz then had the chance to make it 1-0 from a cross from Wendell but his volley went just wide of the left-hand post on 17 minutes.
The breakthrough came four minutes later. A great pass from Aránguiz to Kevin Volland saw the striker fire an unstoppable shot from 20 yards out past Schwolow as the Werkself went 1-0 up on 21 minutes. And Bayer 04 stuck to their guns. Julian Brandt and Panos Retsos both missed the target with long-range efforts on 24 minutes. With 29 minutes on the clock, a shot fired in by Havertz was turned away for a corner. A few seconds later, Schwolow had to pick the ball out of the net for a second time. This time it was Aránguiz who provided a wonderful finish. The Chilean hit a volley from the right corner of the penalty area that flew into the bottom left corner of the net on the half-hour mark.
Freiburg were bewildered – and they conceded a third goal four minutes later. Lars Bender put in a corner from the right side of the box and Volland was able to turn the ball home from close range on 34 minutes. The visitors would have had no grounds for complaint if they had gone in further behind at half-time with Dominik Kohr missing the opportunity to make it 4-0 on 39 minutes.
The second half had just started when Freiburg had a great chance to pull a goal back. But the completely unmarked Marco Terrazzino mishit his shot as he put it wide of the goal on 46 minutes.
Heiko Herrlich's team remained on top in the second half but did not have as many chances as they did in the first against a much improved Freiburg side. One chance did come along: Brandt put the ball through to Bellarabi but his curler from the edge of the box went just wide of the target on 69 minutes. Shortly after that, there was celebration again at the BayArena as Volland netted his third goal. Referee Sven Jablonski called on the help of the video assistant and Freiburg were awarded a free-kick for a foul by Volland on Caglar Söyüncü. The strike was rightly chalked off.
The fourth goal did finally come. With three minutes to play, Aránguiz took a quick free-kick and Brandt received the ball with his back to the goal. He quickly spinned round to slot the ball into the back of the net from five yards out.
Bayer 04 are back in action on Wednesday with an away game at Hertha Berlin. The match at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin kicks off at 20.30 CET.
Match stats:
Bayer 04: Leno - L. Bender (Henrichs 62'), Retsos, S. Bender, Wendell - Kohr (Baumgartlinger 79'), Aránguiz - Bellarabi (Mehmedi 71'), Havertz, Brandt - Volland.
SC Freiburg: Schwolow - Kübler, Lienhart, Söyüncü, C. Günter - Höfler, Abrashi (Frantz 28')- Haberer, Terrazzino (Kapustka 69') - Niederlechner, Kleindienst (Kent 46').
Referee: Sven Jablonski (Bremen)
Goals: 1-0 Volland (21'), 2-0 Aránguiz (29'), 3-0 Volland (34'), 4-0 Brandt (87')
Booked: Höfler
Attendance: 26,200
Bayer 04 will have to manage without Florian Wirtz. The Germany international suffered a ligament injury in his right ankle in the home game against Werder Bremen (0-2) on Saturday. That was the diagnosis from an MRI scan following the game. The 21-year-old midfielder will be out of action for several weeks.
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