He Bayer Leverkusen They dropped two crucial points in their title fight to Bayern Munich after drawing 2-2 against Leipzig, who countered with a great game by Florian Wirtzagain the best of a team that dominated, forgave and experienced disappointment in the last minute.
Leipzig, mired in a tight battle to finish in the top four, had themselves the test of dealing with Wirtz, undoubtedly one of the strongest players in the entire Bundesliga.
His coach, Julian Naggelsmann, rubbed his hands on his 21-year-old gem who, since the last Euro Cup, has led, with Jamal Musiala, a renewed German team with a future.
Wirtz did not balance the match in the first 45 minutes, where he created almost all of the dangerous chances of Bayer Leverkusen, who needed joy after losing this week in the Champions League against Atlético de Madrid (2-1).
His quality was enough for his teammates to leave with the advantage at half-time thanks to two actions that benefited Schrick and Aleix García, authors of the goals for Xabi Alonso’s team in the opening action.
The Czech striker scored his seventeenth goal in an official match this season after a great move by Wirtz, who in the same move put Willy Orban and Arthur Vermeeren inside the area. He sealed his play with a shot that hit the post and although he was left without a prize, Schrick at least collected the rebound to open the scoring with a near-empty goal.
Wirtz controlled the entire game with an amazing burst of speed and a close scoring finish. And although he didn’t score, he celebrated with a big smile, aware of the quality of an action that attracted more attention than Schrick’s shot itself.
Then, Gulacsi, on the half hour, managed to stop Wirtz, who was met by a save by the Hungarian goalkeeper after a poisoned shot from the edge of the area. The Bayer Leverkusen attacker wants to play and after Schrick, Aleix García is the next beneficiary.
And Wirtz, in addition to developing the game and goals, also sacrificed himself under pressure. And as a result of his insistence, he stole the ball from Kevin Kampl inside the area and generously gave it to Aleix García. The former Girona midfielder made no mistake with an accurate shot near the post and Leverkusen added another goal.
Leipzig, which had little presence in its rival’s area and was on the attack for most of the first half, revived on the stroke of half-time with a free kick from Raum that ended up in the net of the goal which was defended by Hradecky.
The Leipzig left-back is the best in his team. The only one who in the first 45 minutes gave some push to his teammates in attack. He scored the goal that gave his team life and also saved another very clear at the beginning of the second half, when he avoided 1-3 with a shot from Ezequiel Palacios that he saved under the line.
And, of course, the play that the Argentine couldn’t finish was started by Wirtz, who soon hit the ball again against the post. Leverkusen relented and Leipzig stepped up in the final third of the match, where they harassed Hradecky’s goal, saving Benjamin Sesko’s shot with a decent save with his feet.
However, Hradecky’s resistance was testimonial, as Edmond Tapsoba, with five minutes remaining, scored an own goal with a precise header that left Leverkusen without two key points in their title fight with Bayern Munich. Wirtz’s great play, the sticks, and the two-goal advantage were not enough for Xabi Alonso’s team, six points from first place.
Technical sheet:
2.- Leipzig: Gulacsi; Klostermann (Baku, min. 67), Orban, Bitshiabu, Raum; Nusa (Baumgartner, min. 66), Vermeeren (Haidara, min. 51), Kampl (Seiwald, min. 51), Simons; Openda (Poulsen, min. 74) and Sesko.
2.- Bayer Leverkusen: Hradecky; Mukiele, Tah, Tapsoba, Hincapie; Arthur (Frimpong, min. 66), Xhaka, Andrich (Palacios, min. 46), Aleix García; Wirtz and Schick (Trlla, min. 65).
Goals: 0-1, min. 19: Schick; 0-2, min. 36: Aleix García; 1-2, min. 41: Raum; 2-2, min. 85: Tapsoba, own goal.
Referee: Bastian Dankert. He showed yellow cards to Andrich (min. 40) and Tapsoba (min. 42) for Bayer Leverkusen and Simons and Baumgartner (min. 88) for Leipzig.
Incidents: the match corresponding to the nineteenth round of the Bundesliga was played at the Red Bull Arena in front of around 45,000 spectators.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Rose Herman and I work as an author for Today Times Live. My expertise lies in writing about sports, a passion of mine that has been with me since childhood. As part of my job, I provide comprehensive coverage on everything from football to tennis to golf.
