As of: 03/19/2023 9:21 p.m
A novelty in the history of video evidence: VAR subsequently corrected two supposed swallows – and with the two penalty goals, Bayer Leverkusen won 2-1 (0-1) against FC Bayern Munich on Sunday (March 19, 2023). The series champion has lost his lead in the Bundesliga to Borussia Dortmund.
Leverkusen, with ex-Bayern star Xabi Alonso as coach, got into the game much better and clearly determined the first quarter of an hour. Only the goal threat was largely absent, except for a shot by Kerim Demirbay deflected over the crossbar by Yann Sommer, Bayer didn’t have a compelling finish. Things got a little more dangerous in the 17th minute, but Sommer was also there to stop Jeremy Frimpong’s powerful left-footed shot in the near corner.
The guests showed how it can be done more effectively. Joshua Kimmich hit the lead out of nowhere in the 22nd minute without appearing really seriously once beforehand: Kimmich shot hard from a central position via Joao Cancelo and Leon Goretzka, Odilon Kossounou wanted to clarify and faked it Ball unstoppable for his goalkeeper Lukás Hrádecký.
Bayern coach Nagelsmann makes three changes despite being in the lead
Up until the break, Bayern managed their lead without a shine, but coach Julian Nagelsmann didn’t seem to like this type of football at all. Although his team was in the lead, he took three players in the dressing room with Cancelo, Sadio Mané and Thomas Müller and brought fresh offensive personnel in Serge Gnabry, Kingsley Coman and Jamal Musiala for the second half.
This did not improve the performance of the record champions, on the contrary: Suddenly, amazing mistakes crept in on the defensive, which had been very stable up to that point. In the 54th minute, Benjamin Pavard let Amine Adli escape in the penalty area and clearly kicked his heels. Referee Tobias Stieler first wanted to see a swallow, was changed on the video monitor, took back the yellow card, apologized to Adli and awarded a penalty: Exequiel Palacios didn’t give Sommer a chance.
Again: yellow, sorry, penalty, goal Leverkusen
Only then did Bayern get into the game better and Musiala had a big chance to score again – his diagonal shot after a super solo including a one-two with Gnabry went inches wide of the Leverkusen goal.
The historic déjà vu followed in the not-so-long history of video evidence. In the 72nd minute this time it was Dayot Upamecano who scrambled the fast Adli on the penalty area line, but Stieler again drew the yellow card for the first time. The story ended identically to the previous one: again the trip to the television, again the correction, again the yellow card with an apology to Adli – and again Palacios’ penalty goal against Sommer: 2: 1.
After that, Bayern put a lot of pressure on, but the strong Leverkusen defense ultimately saved the victory effortlessly over time. In the eighth minute of stoppage time, Mitchel Bakker even had a chance to make it 3-1 after a counterattack, but Sommer saved with a reflex.
Stieler thanks VAR Storks
After the final whistle, Stieler fluctuated between shame, deepest gratitude and relief on the Sportschau microphone. “My soul is crying a little,” said the referee after correcting his double mistake, “but the football world can be satisfied.” The first non-whistle was particularly adventurous: Pavard even kicked out his soccer shoe when he fouled Adli – quite unthinkable with a swallow.
Accordingly, Stieler’s first thanks went to his colleague Sören Storks: “It was a prime example of the perfect cooperation with the video assistant. The VAR was my lifesaver – and also for the game of the lifesaver. Twice on the field next to it, twice Many thanks to the Kölner Keller for the great support.”
Bayern asks for the “classic”
Bayern coach Nagelsmann admitted: “I’m a friend of VAR, it was correct, there were two penalties and therefore in the sense of fairness, it was a deserved defeat.”
In the duel with Dortmund after the international break (Saturday, April 1st, 2023 at 6.30 p.m.), the coach now sees his team under pressure: “We definitely have to win, otherwise it will be difficult to win the championship.” Leverkusen plays Schalke three hours earlier.
Source: sportschau.de