Frankfurt missed home win
Bayer suffers after abstruse VAR spectacle
10/04/2022 10:57 p.m
First, Bayer Leverkusen were denied a goal by VAR in the Champions League game against FC Porto, but then the crazy spectacle on the touchline began. In the end, the Werkself ended up as a bitter loser. Eintracht Frankfurt leaves good chances against Tottenham and misses their first home win.
FC Porto – Bayer Leverkusen 2:0 (0:0)
Toxic, committed – but defeated again: Bayer Leverkusen missed an immensely important success for Gerardo Seoane in the Champions League. The team of the massively counted coach from Switzerland lost 0:2 (0:0) at FC Porto and is now lagging behind their own claims in the premier class with three points from three games. Seoane’s days under the Bavarian Cross could soon be numbered.
A crazy turn just before the break didn’t help the Werkself either, when Patrik Schick first failed with a great chance, but then a goal from the Portuguese champions was disallowed because the video referee had seen a handball on the other side. Star striker Schick, however, missed the penalty kick that was due – and remains without a goal even after 17 games in the Champions League. Zaidu Sanusi (69′) and Galeno (87′) finally fired Porto to victory, while Jeremie Frimpong received a second yellow card (88′).
Club boss Fernando Carro fueled the coaching discussion on Sunday. In a one-two at Sport1, he said Bayer was “not unprepared”. And further: “We need results, as soon as possible. Also in Porto, and then also against Schalke, you have to get the three points.”
With just five points, Bayer is second to last in the Bundesliga. The team showed a non-performance in the 0: 4 at Bayern Munich last Friday. “Regardless of the result,” said Carro, he asked for a “different attitude” in Porto. Seoane, who expressed understanding for the position of the club, exemplified this attitude: the 43-year-old gave many commands on the sidelines, driving his team, which had changed to three positions. The commitment of the players was also right.
After 15 minutes, Leverkusen quickly switched in front of 42,399 spectators collectively, Diaby used Robert Andrich, who served Callum Hudson-Odoi at the far post. The volley from the Chelsea loan, which is well worth seeing, did not count according to video evidence – Andrich had played a foul when winning the ball.
After two defeats, Porto were under even more pressure than the guests, at least in the premier class, and you could tell. Attempts to attack were wild at times, but the Leverkusen defense largely mastered the task. Bayer keeper Lukas Hradecky had a quiet evening for a long time, but in the 40th minute the Finn had to go really long when Mateus Uribe shot from a distance.
After that, things got wild: Bayer energetically demanded a hand penalty after an attack, British referee Anthony Taylor allowed it to continue, Porto scored in the subsequent counterattack by Mehdi Taremi (42nd) – but the VAR said: Leverkusen are actually entitled to a penalty, Porto’s goal counted not with this. However, Bayer’s troubled goalscorer Schick aimed too unplaced.
After the change of sides, the game became more and more disorganized. However, Porto still had a perfect counterattack in their quiver, which substitute Sanusi completed with a powerful header after a cross from Taremi. Galeno (87th) then made everything clear.
Eintracht Frankfurt – Tottenham Hotspur 0:0
The longing remains unsatisfied: Eintracht Frankfurt once again missed out on the redeeming first home win in the premier class on the dream trip through Europe. Without their World Cup hero Mario Götze, the long-convincing Hessen had to settle for a 0-0 draw against Tottenham Hotspur around star striker Harry Kane, but still remain in the tight group D in the race for the round of 16.
In the once again breathtakingly loud Frankfurt cauldron, the Europa League winner missed the second success in the third Champions League group game after the three at Olympique Marseille (1-0) despite a decent performance. The Hessian Bundesliga club will start the journey to the second leg with the English top team in London in the coming week with pressure in their luggage.
Frankfurt had to do without Mario Götze. The 30-year-old still has too much pain in his ankle after twisting his ankle last weekend, said coach Oliver Glasner. Daichi Kamada therefore advanced, while Djibril Sow and Kristijan Jakic returned. Otherwise, the team that had convinced against Union Berlin (2-0) started.
Despite the bitter Götze failure, the Frankfurters started with commitment against the Premier League third party. In a hard-fought initial phase in front of 50,500 fans, the SGE made a much better impression, caused danger for the first time through captain Sebastian Rode (18th) – and thus started a strong urge phase. Out of nowhere, however, the hitherto pale power offensive of the guests reported. Kane (25th) just missed a cross, national goalkeeper Kevin Trapp would have been powerless in front of national coach Hansi Flick.
Eintracht then lost some of their momentum, also because Spurs made significant gains with former Bundesliga stars Heung-Min Son, Ivan Perišić and Pierre-Emile Höjbjerg. It was Son (40′) who flicked the ball wide of the goal from 16 yards out, Perisic’s (43′) shot just missed.
Glasner’s eleven gave the first sign after the break: after an outstanding pass from Sow, Ansgar Knauff’s direct acceptance was too imprecise (50th). On the other side, Evan Ndicka saved with a strong tackle against Kane (51st), before Son (54th) approached the lead again.
A completely open game developed with opportunities for both sides, but Eintracht gradually lost their strength. Jesper Lindström (60′) missed Frankfurt’s best chance, Kamada (76′) also aimed too imprecisely.
