Leverkusen and Freiburg bring several ways to keep an attack alive after the first delivery. Central combinations, wide service and runners arriving around the box give this meeting more depth than a contest between the starting strikers. The important action should be the next ball after a clearance or save.
Leverkusen can connect Garcia and Maza to Schick, or move the attack wide through Diaby and Moreira. Against Mainz, they scored through a central combination and a wide delivery, then added goals through Andrich and Quansah following a corner clearance and a saved shot. Freiburg's official opponent briefing records that three of their four league goals conceded came from set pieces, giving Bayer's continued box occupation a specific opening to attack.
Freiburg have their own means of making the defence work twice. Matanovic has shown he can come toward the ball and help release the attack, Eggestein arrives from midfield, and Grifo's delivery found Goto after Suzuki's dismissal against Schalke. Bayer allowed Mainz repeated chances inside the box even after taking a two-goal lead, so Freiburg's deliveries and following runners have a clear area to test.
Suzuki's domestic suspension changes Freiburg's supporting-forward role, while Terrier's injury narrows Bayer's attacking rotation. Schick and Boniface remain forward options for Bayer, and Freiburg retain the Matanovic outlet and the demonstrated Grifo–Goto connection. My reading is that Bayer's territorial attacks will draw a response through Freiburg's outlets and deliveries, with both sides continuing to attack the second contact. That's why I'm backing a goal-heavy match between Leverkusen and Freiburg.
