Bayern Leverkusen achieved one of those victories that one remembers at the end of the season when they are champions. The leader of the Bundesliga suffered as never before against Leipzig but showed an undeniable attitude and resilience to get up and confirm their return with a goal in the 91st minute from Hincapié (2-3).
I wish there were more teams like these two. Bright bright. It’s rare in modern football to see two clubs with an offensive and bold approach and Red Bull Leipzig and Bayer Leverkusen are an endangered species that delight the fans every minute.
That’s the gist of the game. Open, coming and going, moving and finding the place a lot. Marco Rose has shown that his team has more than enough quality to go head-to-head against the Bundesliga leader, what it lacks is continuity. Yes, the ability to take a step against big rivals and in many cases Leipzig is better.
He hit first. Soon, more than expected, Xavi Simons again pulled a genius out of his hat with a subtle touch to place it to his left and score a volley (7′). At the very least, Leipzig dominated most of the first half. Not so much property, but the game. He did not suffer at the back, with a very active defense against any movement by Leverkusen and with special attention to Wirtz. In attack, looking for transitions, he has to bring another player with Openda who is quite alone.
However, it is no coincidence that Leverkusen are at the top of the Bundesliga table. Even though Frimpong was out due to injury in the first half, Xabi Alonso’s half-time talk probably had an impact because Tella, the Dutchman’s replacement, immediately equalized with a shot at the far post (47′).
Then the problems began for Leipzig. Or so it seems. Wirtz activated the superstar button and seemed to multiply the ball throughout Leverkusen’s attack. Unstoppable, with overflow and insight into the game, he achieved advantages that his team could not take advantage of. He even came close to scoring but Blaswich made the save.
Obviously football is a different sport because the closer the goal is to Alonso’s team, the closer the goal is to Rose’s team. Leverkusen get a deadly corner and the counterattack is devastating. Simons for Olmo, first at the back for Openda and, with the first touch, a perfect finish (59′).
Nothing changed that because Bayer didn’t allow it. Aware of his ability and what was at stake, he immediately drew a draw. It’s Tah, on approach, with a header at the far post as Blaswich claims a foul on Wirz, who misses (63′).
From there, Leverkusen monologue. Leipzig hardly left their field, harassed by Bayer’s long possessions, always looking for space as soon as possible. Even with Grimaldo who seems to be more extreme than lateral. The only thing missing is to find the free player for the shot. Or that the rival defense was clouded, which did not happen. At least until discount. Xavi Alonso was left without Palacios, who was at his best, on the pitch due to injury but strategy, the team’s great asset, again made the difference. This is how Hincapié appeared at the far post in the 91st minute to take a comeback ‘in extremis’ for a Leverkusen made of different material.
match lineup
twenty-one
2
22
13
16
23
twenty
24
30
17
7
1
30
twenty
3
4
2
3. 4
25
14
7
10
Red Bull Arena
Lukás Hrádecky1
73′
Jeremie Frimpong30
30′
Alex Grimaldotwenty
73′
Piero Hincapié3
90′
Jonathan Tah4
Eleven
62′
Josip Stanisic2
37′
6′
70′
83′
Granite Xhaka3. 4
86′
Exequiel Palacios25
87′
73′
Patrick Schick14
91′
55′
Jonas Hoffmann7
73′
Florian Wirtz10
65′
Replacements
Matej Kovar17
Timothy Fosu-Mensah24
Robert Andrich8
87′
73′
Nadiem AmiriEleven
83′
Noah Mbamba18
73′
Nathan Tella19
30′
46′
73′
Gustavo Puerta32
73′
Ken Izekor38
Adam Hlozek23
91′
coach
Marco Rose
Xabi Alonso
Source: La Verdad
I am Shawn Partain, a journalist and content creator working for the Today Times Live. I specialize in sports journalism, writing articles that cover major sporting events and news stories. With a passion for storytelling and an eye for detail, I strive to be accurate and insightful in my work.
