Status: 05/02/2022 10:21 p.m
The Champions League in sight: As usual, Bayer Leverkusen dominated a B-Elf from Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga. SGE trainer Glasner spared many players.
On Monday evening (May 2nd, 2022) Bayer Leverkusen dominated the game against Eintracht Frankfurt and won 2-0 (1-0). The Bayer goals on matchday 32 of the Bundesliga were scored by Paulinho (18′) and star striker Patrik Schick (51′). Moussa Diaby also shone: he set up both goals.
Thanks to the success, Leverkusen is taking the next step towards qualifying for the Champions League and is now in third place with 58 points. Frankfurt remains at 40 points and is in eleventh place.
Eintracht coach Glasner rotates before the Europa League highlight
In the game at Bayer Leverkusen, Frankfurt coach Oliver Glasner rotated through the starting line-up. Before the semi-final second leg against West Ham United in the Europa League (Thursday, 9 p.m.), only two field players remained in the starting eleven compared to the first leg, alongside goalkeeper Kevin Trapp in Tuta and Filip Kostic.
Rafael Borré and Jesper Lindström (muscle injury) who were suspended were not in the squad at all, nor were Martin Hinteregger (cold) and the rested Sebastian Rode. At Leverkusen, Robert Andrich and Piero Hincapié returned to the starting XI after being suspended.
“The boys tried everything,” emphasized Glasner on the Sportschau microphone after the end of the game. Whereby the “last penetrating power” was missing. For the semi-final second leg against West Ham, he “took consideration” against Leverkusen because of the stress on his top players. “We want to go to the final in Seville.”
Bayer 04 pushed disciplined Frankfurters in the back
Right at the beginning of the game, Frankfurt was put on the defensive. Bayer had ball possession advantages, set the first accents on the winger Diaby. The “Werkself” looked for depth in the attacking third early on.
But Eintracht defended in a disciplined manner against the team that has already scored 14 goals in the first quarter of an hour of the current season. It should be anticipated: Frankfurt’s first shot on goal did not come until the 38th minute of the game.
Leverkusen’s strong switching game cracks SGE
Frankfurt then had to learn the hard way that Leverkusen can also play disciplined teams apart. Bayer 04 showed their notorious switching game: Diaby broke through on a counterattack on the right after a hacked pass from Schick, skilfully put the outside of his foot over to Paulinho – who defeated Trapp on the second post. It was the eleventh counterattack of the Leverkusen season.
As a result, Eintracht had problems with the now even more pressing Leverkuseners. It often went with a quick pass through the center and over the active Sardar Azmoun. He stuck through to Schick, who sank the Czech. However, Schick was offside and the goal didn’t count (34′).
Despite further Leverkusen chances, it remained 1-0 at the break. But that was also due to the fact that Jens Petter Hauge missed Frankfurt’s first big opportunity (42′).
Frankfurt also spares Kostic and other players
While Leverkusen started the second round unchanged, SBU coach Glasner took out Filip Kostic in the sportingly meaningless game for Frankfurt, and Tuta and Hauge also stayed in the dressing room. Almamy Touré, Ansgar Knauff and Sam Lammers got their chance (46th).
The balance of power remained unchanged. Leverkusen was superior, Lammers, who had just come on as a substitute, gave the ball away after an improper reception of the ball in his own half. And Diaby hung up for Schick, who scored goal number 22 of the season. The flag had only gone up, Schick himself had suspected an offside position, but the VAR checked: no offside.
Towards the end the encounter slowed down, with Leverkusen always maintaining control and missing further chances. Lucas Alario missed the best of them late (90+2).
Leverkusen in Hoffenheim, Frankfurt against Gladbach
Bayer Leverkusen are visiting Hoffenheim on Matchday 33 (Saturday, May 7, 3:30 p.m.). Eintracht Frankfurt welcomes Borussia Mönchengladbach at home (Sunday, May 8, 3:30 p.m.).
Source: sportschau.de