Bundesliga
Masters Leverkusen and the luck of late goals
Leverkusen’s coach Xabi Alonso celebrates the draw at Borussia Dortmund with his players. photo
© Bernd Thissen/dpa
The master falters, but he does not fall. A late goal also helped in the 1-1 draw in the top game at BVB. Getting through the season undefeated becomes a mission.
Even Xabi Alonso was carried away by the emotions. After the late equalizer Josip Stanisic (90th + 7) in the top game at Borussia Dortmund, the Leverkusen coach, who is otherwise known to be rather reserved, stormed towards the corner flag together with his professionals and joined the exuberant celebration in front of the guests’ stands.
“It was very emotional, a special moment – almost like last week,” enthused the successful Spanish coach, referring to the exuberant atmosphere at the early championship celebration seven days earlier in Leverkusen following the resounding victory (5-0) over Bremen.
The grace of the late goals remains with Leverkusen even after they won the title early. The sovereign Bundesliga leaders scored once again in stoppage time. “We just believe in it until the end,” commented goalscorer Stanisic with a broad grin: “Of course there’s a bit of luck involved this season. If it works, it works.”
The long successful streak of 44 competitive games without defeat seemed to be in danger when national player Niclas Füllkrug scored a volley to give Dortmund the lead in the 81st minute. But thanks to the loanee from Munich’s second goal of the season, the series was extended in the end.
Unlike Stanisic, leader Granit Xhaka didn’t think of talking about luck. “That was absolutely deserved. We were the better team from the 1st to the 90th minute,” said the Swiss – and he wasn’t entirely wrong in his assessment. Although BVB only allowed a few Leverkusen chances in a boring duel for a long time, they were far from the gala of the Champions League triumph over Atlético Madrid on offense.
Xhaka: “That was a deserved point”
Alonso saw things similarly to Xhaka and described his team as having a “super mentality”. Just three days after the difficult quarter-final duel in the Europa League at West Ham, she mobilized her last strength and struck back ice-cold in the last seconds. “We didn’t deserve to lose today. To play like that against a Champions League semi-finalist,” praised the Spanish football teacher, “I’m very happy with the performance and the result.”
The next difficult test for the Bayer team will be on the next match day. The impressive series should also hold in the top game against third-placed Stuttgart, although the team will then have to make do without the suspended Xhaka. An internal team vow should help with this. “We talked to each other. This is a new challenge for us. To stay unbeaten in the league and make history,” revealed the midfielder.