After the master’s test against FC Bayern Munich, which they passed with a fabulous 3-0 victory, table leaders Bayer 04 Leverkusen went to the summit meeting in Heidenheim on Saturday. Summit meeting? That’s true, because 1. FC Heidenheim plays on the Schlossberg at an altitude of 555 meters, the highest elevation in the Bundesliga. Summit meeting but also because the two most successful teams currently met on Saturday.
On the one hand, the Rhinelanders, who, with another full or partial success, were able to equal the defending champions from Munich’s long-seeming unbeatable unbeaten record, which Bayern had set between December 2019 and September 2020 with 32 competitive games without defeat.
On the other hand, the team from Ostalb, promoted last summer, in tenth place after eight games without defeat, was waiting for the future champion with a carefree look to the top. And the Swabians had a lot of expectations for this encounter with coach Xabi Alonso’s high-flyers.
32 unbeaten competitive games
“This is a game where you have to play either or,” coach Frank Schmidt predicted, “there isn’t much in the middle. I want to see that everyone believes that we can create a surprise.” The Basque world man Alonso only replied: “We want to stay hungry, that’s the most important thing.”
Leverkusen’s hunger was unmistakable when it came to the Werkself’s next win. With a lot of work and the right attitude against a very uncomfortable opponent, the Bundesliga leader achieved a deserved 2-1 win with goals from winger Frimpong (45th + 2nd minute) and Adli (81st) while center forward Kleindienst conceded a goal (87.).
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The West Germans noted in passing that they had equaled Bayern’s record of 32 unbeaten competitive games in a row. “Winnings are more important than being unbeaten,” said sporting director Simon Rolfes, describing Bayer 04’s highest expectations. The first 45 minutes were not appetizing until the second minute of the first half. Leverkusen dominated the game, but almost never found the space to create goals from combination chains.
And Heidenheim limited himself to concentrated man-to-man work on defense and harmless occasional counterattacks. At least: The big favorite didn’t allow himself to be annoyed and frustrated – and was rewarded after all. Amine Adli saw on the left side of Leverkusen’s attack that Jeremie Frimpong, his even faster colleague on the right, was without an opponent for a moment.
The Moroccan international’s razor-sharp low pass reached Frimpong precisely, and he easily shot the ball into the Heidenheim goal. A deserved lead for the favorite, who had to struggle on difficult terrain to show off his fabulous passing game every now and then.
In the second half, Heidenheim also dared to do more offensively under the pressure of the 1-0 deficit, but only rarely threatened Bayer 04’s goal. Leverkusen were closer to another goal – especially when playmaker Florian Wirtz slammed the ball against the crossbar (77th).
Leverkusen conductor on the sidelines: Coach Xabi Alonso: Image: dpa
An alarm signal for the Heidenheimers, which was followed five minutes later by the decisive goal to make it 2-0 for the first in the table. Wirtz initiated the goal when he passed to his colleague Adli, and he used his space cold-bloodedly. The fact that FCH was able to reduce the score to 1:2 thanks to Kleindienst’s header was nothing more than a side note for the undaunted Heidenheim team.
“We gave everything and tried everything,” said Schmidt about his courageous team’s performance. He left no doubt that Bayer 04 deserved to win. Despite his joy at the mandatory victory, colleague Xabi Alonso remained objective. “There is still a lot to do,” he said, “but we continue to look forward.” If the team’s convincing game this time speaks for itself, no player or coach needs to say too much about it.
