Destructive Leverkusen players fight for a point in Munich

Bayern Munich only managed a draw against a completely overwhelmed Bayer Leverkusen. The master was extremely confused. The top game of the Bundesliga on Saturday ended 1:1 (1:1). And that even though the record champions were really superior – Bayer defended successfully and was also quite lucky.

It was the famous cold shower that Robert Andrich turned on for the guests: After the first somewhat orderly advance over the halfway line, Andrich shot from a good 20 meters and beat Manuel Neuer in the record champions’ box (31st minute). Aleksandar Pavlovic, who had a share in Munich’s deficit, made up for his mistake and also scored the equalizer with a long-range shot (39′). No more goals are scored.

“The style of play today is not our style of play – with the ball. But we defended well as a team without the ball.”Jonathan Tah summed up at the Sportschau microphone after the game, “But Bayern were much more dominant with the ball, but not much came of that.”

Bayern’s newcomer back between the posts

After his short injury break, Manuel Neuer returned to Bayern’s goal for the summit meeting against the champions, which was billed as Munich’s great revenge. In addition to Neuer, Serge Gnabry and Raphaël Guerreiro joined the team, while Kingsley Coman and Konrad Laimer remained out. Visiting coach Xabi Alonso switched his team to five positions and also relied on national player Robert Andrich in midfield.

Bayern, who showed total grit in their duels right from the start, gained what felt like 90 percent possession of the ball in the first half hour. The first highlight came from Jamal Musiala, who took on four Leverkusen players with a solo 25 meters from the visitors’ goal and was only stopped by national defender Jonathan Tah shortly before the edge of the penalty area. Michael Olise placed the free kick just over the Bayer goal to the right.

Leverkusen uses 100 percent of its scoring opportunities

The visitors’ defense had a lot of trouble dealing with Bayern’s pressure in the first half hour, but withstood the attack. And Eiskalt took advantage of his first chance. After the team’s first advance around Granit Xhaka, Aleksandar Pavlovic carelessly caused a corner. And Leverkusen took advantage of this first chance to take the lead: Alex Grimaldo hit the corner from the left far into the penalty area. Xhaka set up perfectly and Andrich hit the ball from the backcourt into the goal on the left, unstoppable.

The Munich team only seemed shocked for a moment, but quickly picked up their game from the first 30 minutes. First Musiala failed with a shot from almost 20 meters, then Pavlovic tried from a distance. And how: Initiated by Olise, who was once again strong, Tapsoba headed the ball out of the penalty area, but right at the feet of the Bayern jewel.

Pavlovic let the ball bounce once and then shot from a quick 25 meters. Lukas Hradecky saw the ball late, stretched, but only got his fingertips to the ball. So the gap that led to the deficit was erased again.

Bayern pressure remains high – double aluminum

Even after the break, Bayern’s superiority remained obvious: especially in the duels, the moderators were always that famous step faster. Leverkusen braced themselves against the home team, but were also really confused: After a high pass from Harry Kane, Serge Gnabry volleyed at the level of the second post, but only hit the right post, from where the ball bounced back to Gnabry. Gnabry wanted to slam the second chance under the crossbar – again he only hit the aluminum (48th).

An hour had been played when Olise had his best chance, but the ball bounced off the perfectly positioned Hradecky from close range from the right. Kimmich and Davies tried it from a distance, each just slightly distorted.

Time believes the vastly superior Munich team. Kingsley Coman, Konrad Laimer, Leroy Sané and Thomas Müller came into the game, but even their introduction did not result in any further scoring opportunities. None quickly. Because a free kick variant quickly led to success: Müller strolled offside without wanting to intervene in the game. Joshua Kimmich served Musiala on the left, who then played Müller in a central position. But Tapsoba smelled the roast and blocked the Bayern rascal.

Leverkusen defended with discipline and had a shot through Nathan Tella towards the end of the second half, but the champions were not able to attack on this fifth matchday.

Munich in Frankfurt, Leverkusen against Kiel

Leverkusen awaits the team from Kiel on matchday 6 (October 5th, 3:30 p.m.). The Munich team will travel to Frankfurt one day later (October 6th, 5:30 p.m.).