Bayer Leverkusen continued their impressive Bundesliga form with a composed 2–0 home victory over mid-table side Freiburg in Matchweek 8.

The hosts took control early at the BayArena, as Amine Adli’s brilliant play set up Piero Hincapié for a close-range finish in the 22nd minute. Later in the first half, defender Edmond Tapsoba doubled Bayer’s lead with a powerful header, putting the result beyond doubt.

Freiburg’s hopes of a comeback disappeared completely when Philipp Lienhart was shown a red card in the 74th minute, leaving the visitors down to ten men.

With this win, Bayer Leverkusen move up to fourth place in the Bundesliga table on 17 points — level with Borussia Dortmund. Only Bayern Munich (24) and RB Leipzig (19) sit ahead of them as the title race begins to heat up.

2025-26, Germany - Bundesliga

Bayer 04 - Freiburg 2:0 (1:0)
Goals: Poku E., 22 (1:0); Tapsoba E., 52 (2:0)

Bayer 04: Flekken; Quansah (Belocian, 77); Badé L.; Tapsoba E.; Arthur Soares; Grimaldo; Fernández Ez. (Andrich, 67); Hofmann (Maza, 67); Aleix Garcia; Poku E.; Kofane (Schick, 77)
Substitution: Andrich (from 67); Maza (from 67); Belocian (from 77); Schick (from 77)
Bench: Blaswich; Mensah; Echeverri; Terrier; Ben Seghir
Yellow Cards: Aleix Garcia 39

Freiburg: Atubolu; Lienhart (till 74); Kübler (Rosenfelder Max, 67); Treu; Makengo J.; Ginter; Manzambi (Matanovic, 67); Scherhant (Günter, 77); Eggestein М.; Höler; Adamu C. (Suzuki Yu., 46)
Substitution: Suzuki Yu. (from 46); Rosenfelder Max (from 67); Matanovic (from 67); Günter (from 77)
Bench: Müller Fl.; Jung A.; Beste; Höfler; Grifo
Yellow Cards: Lienhart 15, 74
Red cards: Lienhart 74'