Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen are serious. He demonstrated this in the first three matchdays of the Bundesliga, which helped him go into the break as league leader. But now it was a matter of proving that he not only wants to be a competitor to Bayern in the fight for the top spot in Germany’s top competition, but can also be one. The team, led by the coach from Tolosa, visited the German champions, prevailed against them and, after a 2-2 draw, won the golden point at the last second thanks to a maximum penalty that Palacios did not award, so that Leverkusen remains at the top of the table in Germany.
Tuchel opted for Müller instead of Musiala (touched) behind Kane, Xabi gave continuity to Wirtz and Hofmann to supply Boniface with balls up front. Of course, the first thing the Spanish coach’s students encountered was a jug of cold water that fell on them seven minutes into the game at the Allianz Arena. Frimpong (unintentionally) extended a corner taken by Sané at the far post, where Kane had evaded Xhaka’s shot and just had to stick his head in to score at will. Fourth goal on the fourth matchday for the Englishman. He is a murderer.
But Xabi Alonso remained calm and ordered his team to do exactly the same. And his team obeyed. Little by little, the Aspirin team let go of the respect with which they had entered the field, found solutions to the Munich pressure and began to play close to the goal protected by Ulreich. Right there, about 20 meters from the Munich goal, Grimaldo masterfully delivered a direct free kick that threw the Bayern team off balance and put the score back on track. The Spanish cause was a great goal writ large. Even Sané was amazed.
It was a great game. Leverkusen continued to steal and project themselves in attack, but they also saw Hradecky stay on his feet against Bayern’s first final attack before heading through the locker room. Nothing changed in the second half, when the Finnish goalkeeper parried Kane’s shot from close range again. Wirtz, in turn, sent the ball to the post. But it was only at the end of the duel that madness reigned in the Allianz Arena. The newly introduced Tel gave Goretzka the 2-1 on a plate, but a penalty from Davies against Hofmann, signaled by the VAR, silenced the Munich fiefdoms again. Especially when Palacios made the final score 2-2.
Changes
Exequiel Palacios (45′, Robert Andrich), Jamal Musiala (60′, Thomas Müller), Noussair Mazraoui (60′, Joshua Kimmich), Mathy’s phone (69′, Serge Gnabry), Amine Adli (81′, Jeremie Frimpong), Matthijs de Ligt (84′, Konrad Laimer), Eric Choupo Moting (84′, Harry Kane), Adam Hlozek (89′, Edmond Tapsoba), Nadiem Amiri (95′, Florian Wirtz), Piero Hincapie (95′, Jonas Hofmann)
Goals
1-0, 6′: Kane1-1, 23′: Grimaldo2-1, 85′: Leon Goretzka2-2, 93′: Exequiel Palacios
cards
Arbitro: Daniel Schlager
Referee VAR: Dr. Matthias Jöllenbeck, Jonas Weickenmeier
Tuchel (24′, yellow) Jonas Hofmann (33′, yellow) Florian Wirtz (46′, yellow) Edmond Faycial Tapsoba (68′, yellow)
classification
Classification PT PJ PG PE PP
| 1 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 2 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 3 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 4 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 5 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
Classification PT PJ PG PE PP
| 1 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 2 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 3 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 4 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 5 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
