Images of a classic football drama emerged in the final minutes of the game between Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Mönchengladbach. While some were hectically and excitedly trying to catch up on what they had missed for an hour and a half, others tried to save themselves with one liberation move after the next. Until the moment of the last desperate act: Robert Andrich took on the task on Leverkusen’s side – and missed the goal by around 100 meters. The typical scenes of resignation followed: Bayer professionals sinking to the ground, disbelief, empty looks, Josip Stanisic hiding his face under his own jersey. Was that it with the dreams of the championship?
After the 0-0 draw against Borussia, Bayer’s first game of the season without a goal, there will certainly be arguments in one place or another about the fact that the Leverkusen team could feel increasing pressure to succeed or that the opponents have now developed methods of defense – at least they managed to do so The two away wins in Augsburg and Leipzig also only came through goals in stoppage time. In truth, the goalless meeting on Saturday evening provided no evidence for one theory or the other, no matter how bad crime scene-Commissioner, the evidence would be sufficient to suspect.
The difference between the two opponents was too clear, which was reflected, among other things, in a goal shooting ratio of 27:4. Even Borussia coach Gerardo Seoane came forward as a witness without being asked. “I have the feeling that Bayer Leverkusen is extremely stable,” explained the Swiss, who was happy to praise his team for their disciplined defensive work, but also did not fail to praise the “luck of the game” that had come to their aid.
Nevertheless, over the course of the second half it became noticeable that Bayer 04’s season had entered a different phase: happy winning was a thing of the past, now every win is also a must-win. The game remained somewhat open until the break. The home team had dominated the scene with their usual opulent passing game and placed the more dangerous attacks, but they also had to survive some successful counterattacks from Borussia. After the change, the picture changed: Xabi Alonso’s team committed to the three-point requirement, forced the attack, but missed a handful of first-class chances – and lost the line.
Wirtz got bogged down in dribbling, Grimaldo hit crosses from the half field
Granit But doggedness and hardship now mixed into the Bayer game: Florian Wirtz got bogged down in dribbling, Grimaldo hit crosses from the half field, right winger Jeremie Frimpong noticeably bore the burden of having missed at least three high-quality chances. Even the empty goal would probably have been too small for him that evening.
By the way, center forward Patrik Schick was also on the pitch; he twice initiated excellent counterattacks with his head, but he was unable to make a name for himself as a goalscorer. He now seems to have reached the tough phase that so many footballers have to endure when making a comeback after a long injury break, which is why on Saturday everyone’s attention turned to the stands: there, apart from the attacker Victor Boniface, who was unable to play until April because of an injury and who looked correspondingly sullen, was sitting there also Borjas Iglesias, whom Bayer presented as a new acquisition in the evening.
The Iglesias transfer is not based on the data from the well-structured Leverkusen scouting department
The 31-year-old Spaniard, former national player, nicknamed “Panda”, is initially on loan from Betis Sevilla, where he scored very regularly for three years, but has recently no longer been used as a regular player. Jonas Hofmann would have liked to have seen Iglesias, who has a handsome beard, at his side on Saturday evening: “If you can bring in a really beefy striker at the end and change the game a little, then that will be of great use to you.”
It is a transfer that is based not on the data of the well-structured Leverkusen scouting department, but on the short-term needs and the personal recommendation of the coach. Xabi Alonso has a lot planned for Iglesias in the next few weeks. On the one hand, he should relieve Schick and, on the other hand, replace Boniface, whose style of play he resembles, and he should help ensure that Bayer 04 do not get into trouble in the second, particularly challenging second half of the season due to signs of wear and tear in the squad.
Xabi Alonso didn’t let the disappointment of the Gladbach game show. “Today was the first time we didn’t score and maybe it won’t be the last time. But we stay calm, we stay positive,” said the coach. The race for the big trophies has just begun, Alonso tries to convince himself in an attempt to remain calm: “If I got nervous now, I would be exhausted in May.”