EIt was only a few days ago that Borussia Dortmund lost 2-1 at Bayer Leverkusen in an exciting soccer game. In a duel that BVB could have won well considering its chances, but was not stable enough. On this Saturday, VfL Wolfsburg showed in an exemplary manner what kind of playing style of Bayer coach Peter Bosz’s team is not at all suitable.
A style that does not aim to create dominance, which focuses on consistent and concentrated defense work, enriched with a certain consistency in front of the goal. With a goal from Ridle Baku, coach Oliver Glasner’s team won 1-0 (1-0) in Leverkusen and is now fourth in the table ahead of BVB and Borussia Mönchengladbach. “We lacked freshness,” Bayer goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky later analyzed dryly.
Vulnerable only in the early stages
Only in the initial phase did the Wolfsburg appear fragile and needed a quarter of an hour to find the right attitude for this important game in a direct duel between two Champions League contenders. Bayer had good chances at first, but Lucas Alario headed the post (7th), failed from five meters to Koen Casteels (22nd), and Florian Wirtz did not hit the ball cleanly in a favorable position (30th). The Wolfsburg team was already on a par and Baku used Daley Sinkgraven’s inattentiveness to head the 0: 1 after a nice cross from Renato Steffen (35th).
In the second half, Leverkusen was always on the ball, but the Wolfsburg defense seemed more and more like a bulwark that simply has no weak points. Moussa Diaby and was annoyed, Wirtz lost courage, and Alario had practically no ball actions against the Wolfsburg central defenders Brooks and Lacroix. A 16-meter shot by Sinkgraven was still dangerous (82nd), Casteels held the ball. This win was not spectacular, but very impressive.
Leverkusen meanwhile may have to do without midfielder Julian Baumgartlinger for a long time. The Austrian may have injured his cruciate ligament against Wolfsburg just five minutes after being substituted on. “I’m a bit scared at Baumi,” said coach Peter Bosz. “But we mustn’t speculate now. We have to wait for the MRI. ”The 33-year-old signaled directly that he had to be replaced. He left the place, supported by two physiotherapists.
There is also uncertainty about Lars Bender’s repeated injury. While the club spoke of a bruise on the back of the head, Bosz said the calf had “closed”. Obviously, both played a role in replacing the 31-year-old, who will end his career this summer.
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